City
Epaper

Libya, Italy discuss migrants, military escalation

By IANS | Updated: August 1, 2019 00:00 IST

Migration and the almost-four-month-old battle for control of Tripoli were the focus of talks between Libya's internationally recognised Premier Fayez al-Sarraj and the Italian envoy, the Presidential Council said.

Open in App

Italy's Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino's talks with Sarraj centred on "important topics" that included migrants and "military and security developments," the statement said.

"Cooperation between Italy and Libya" was also high on the meeting agenda, it added.

During the talks, Sarraj underlined his government's determination to keep defending Tripoli from the ground and aerial assault launched on it in early April by eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces, said the statement.

Buccino and Sarraj also analysed "the consequences" of the deadly bombing of the Tajoura migrant shelter east of Tripoli earlier this month (allegedly by Haftar's warplanes).

Sarraj told Buccino that illegal immigration must be resolved "in a radical way that takes account of its humanitarian, economic and security dimensions - with the international community's active contribution," the statement added.

In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Tuesday, Buccino said Libya faced "an uphill struggle" to achieve peace and stability as it was clear from Haftar's recent talks with UN envoy Ghassan Salame in Benghazi that he was still determined to achieve victory despite the current military stalemate.

Libya is at "an extremely critical juncture" and former colonial power Italy is the only country whose embassy is still open the war-wracked country, Buccino said. "We represent a message of peace," he said.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: SarrajKhalifa HaftarItalyLibya
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalRome Tower Collapse: One Killed, Several Injured After Torre dei Conti Collapses Near Colosseum (Watch Video)

MaharashtraNagpur Hotelier Javed Akhtar and Wife Killed in Italy Road Accident; Children Hospitalized In Critical Condition

InternationalItaly Plane Crash Video: Two Dead After Aircraft Crashes Onto Highway in Brescia, Bursts Into Flames

Social ViralMan Drinks Almost Seven Litres of Liquid Eggs in 60 Seconds, Sets Guinness World Record (Watch Video)

InternationalGiorgia Meloni Congratulates Elon Musk After US Election Result, Says ‘Important Resource for US and Italy’

International Realted Stories

International"Trade talks with US have moved on quite well," says USISPF President

InternationalPakistan: Lahore ranked second most polluted city in world

International"Extremely saddened to see what happened; it is a terror attack": German Ambassador on Delhi car blast

InternationalCoexistence, tolerance fuel UAE's thriving business environment

InternationalIndia-France defence chiefs hold talks to advance strategic partnership