The Italian Ambassador stated that our interests and Libya’s interests are threatened and no meeting of common interests can be as long as the threat of criminal organizations exists.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the return of Italy’s embassy in Tripoli in a dialogue with Alwasat Newspaper, the Italian Ambassador focused on several issues, including illegal immigration, security situation in Tripoli and the possibility of Libyans obtaining visas to the only European country that reopened its embassy in Libya.
The Ambassador stated that security situation has improved considerably, while citizens continue to suffer because of the acute lack of most basic needs of life.
The biggest challenge is the smugglers as the criminal organizations have links through a wide and highly organized network. Therefore, action must be taken at all levels by cooperation, security, social and economic support. As for the memorandum of understanding, there are positive results reached and confirmed by statistics, represented by the decline in the number of migrants coming to and leaving Libya, dealing with the situation of migrants and development of the capabilities of the security services.
The requests for visas are many as the embassy is the only European embassy in Tripoli and despite the limited number of staff in the visa office, more than 6,000 visas during one year were issued from our offices in Tripoli and Tobruk.
Regarding the Italian interests in Libya, the Ambassador stated that the interests of Libya and Italy are common and stability must be achieved first in Libya and then achieving social, economic and trade growth which is represented by increasing the volume of cooperation between the two countries and the volume of trade exchange; but stability remains the most important element of Italy as the danger of criminal organizations and the danger of exporting terrorism to our borders exists.
The reasons for slow of political process currently in Libya is the division in the country, which has not yet been overcome, despite the commitment of several parties and personal interests prevail over the public interest and the interest of the country.
There is no conflict of interest between Italy and Western countries on the Libyan crisis but there is common goal in elimination of criminal organizations; and as Italy is close to Libya and receive migrants, it deals directly with security and economic sectors.
Regarding elections in Libya, the Ambassador hopes that 2018 will be the year of comprehensive reconciliation and elections but before the elections, the law must first be ratified by the Libyan parliament.
The recognition of one executive authority to conduct elections is another important matter and must be a prior commitment to recognize the election results and to resolve any problem that may arise peacefully and democratically.
