A team from the Italian Civil Aviation Authority has inspected the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority headquarters. The Italian Embassy in Libya tweeted that the visit was to review international standards and regulations.
The Embassy added that the visit “aims to review the requirements and conditions for lifting the air ban imposed on Libyan airlines. It also includes meetings with officials from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, a visit to the Tripoli-Mitiga airport, and verification of safety procedures.”
It confirmed that the visit “is an encouraging step towards the resumption of flights to Italy and Europe, and is considered a strategic issue in bilateral relations.”
On Wednesday, Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah El Sisi held talks with Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto in Cairo. They focused on strengthening military cooperation, in addition to the latest regional developments, especially with regard to the ongoing crisis in Libya.
The two agreed on the importance of pursuing “political solutions for various regional crises within the framework of protecting states’ unity, and the safety of lands.”
As for the Libyan file, El Sisi stressed the need to “meet the Libyan people’s aspirations for restoring security and stability, and moving ahead toward the development and prosperity of their country.”
He also reiterated Egypt’s “firm stance to help create the required climate for holding Libya’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections simultaneously.”
In turn, Crosetto stressed that Rome is “working for the stability of Libya, and to end the flow of migrants to European countries, especially Italy.”
Notably, Libya’s eastern-based Parliament voted to suspend its designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha. It appointed his Finance Minister, Osama Hamada to his role, the Parliamentary Spokesman, Abdullah Blaiheg said Tuesday.
In February 2022, the Libyan Parliament elected the former Interior Minister to replace Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba. This was part of a United Nations-backed peace process to end more than a decade of violence in the North African country.
Dbaiba failed in his key task of organizing elections in December, at which point the Parliament ruled that his mandate had run out. The Tripoli-based Prime Minister refused to hand over power before elections, preparing a showdown with Bashagha.
