The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, had a telephone conversation today with the Libyan President, Fayez Al-Sarraj.
During the conversation, the Italian Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction for the positive and cordial atmosphere that had characterised the Rome meeting a few days ago between the President of the House of Representatives Saleh and the President of the High Council of State Sweili, which Italy had largely contributed to organising.
President Al-Sarraj spoke very favourably of the initiative promoted by Italy in the course of the telephone call.
Minister Alfano reassured Al-Sarraj of Italy’s fully support to the implementation of the national political agreement, emphasising the key role played by the Presidential Council in the process to consolidate the Country’s institutions.
Al-Sarraj fully agreed with the need for a political intervention in overcoming the Libyan crisis, and said he was convinced of Italy’s strategic importance in the process to stabilise Libya.
“We cannot allow Libya to fall back into chaos because of the fallout this would have in terms of terrorism and human trafficking,” Minister Alfano told his interlocutor, reminding him of the commitment of the Italian Government to favour the institutional framework envisaged in the political agreement and as was also outlined, inter alia, in the final declaration released by the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting held in Lucca.
“The solution to the crisis can be nothing other than political,” specified Mr Alfano, adding that “dialogue represents the only viable way out” and that “Italy will bring forward its action to foster peace in the Country.”
