Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi di Maio left for Paris on Wednesday to meet with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian. They are due to discuss the resumption of production, and exportation of Libyan oil, that has been stalled since the oil blockade in January.
This meeting is the second between the two FM’s since the opening of the EU’s internal borders, and comes in the framework of coordinating joint efforts, between both countries regarding the ongoing crisis.
Di Maio believes that ending the oil blockade was an urgent priority. This is because the suspension of oil production, was helping to exacerbate the suffering of the Libyan people, according to the Italian News Agency ‘Aki’.
The British newspaper ‘The Guardian’, revealed details of an earlier agreement stating the opening of oil facilities, and the division of oil revenues between three banks. Under this agreement, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) would resume production, with the oil revenues deposited directly to the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli. This would come with an agreement not to use the funds for military purposes. Currently, the eastern tribal leaders are being consulted concerning the plans, The Guardian added.
On Monday, the NOC announced ongoing negotiations in the past few weeks with the Government of National Accord (GNA), the United Nations, the United States, and countries in the region to resume oil production.