On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh, held a meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, to push for renewed efforts to resolve the Libyan conflict.
In a statement, Parliament spokesperson Abdullah Belhaq said that Saleh discussed recent developments in the country, as well as the eastern Mediterranean with Di Maio. The two officials also spoke of the possible political settlements to end the crisis.
Belhaq stated that Di Maio expressed his support for Saleh’s ceasefire initiative and the Cairo Declaration, which stress the necessity of freezing all of Libya’s oil revenues until a new political leadership is formed. This is to ensure that such revenues will be used for the benefit of the people.
Earlier today, Di Maio held talks with the Prime Minister of Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Al-Sarraj, voicing his support for the coordinated ceasefire between the two parties. He noted that “all external interference in Libya must stop. Libya is an important player, and a crucial partner for building a new model of development in the Mediterranean, with flourishing trade and growth opportunities for all countries in the area.”
The North African country, which sits on the continent’s largest crude oil reserves, has been marred in a complex web of conflicts, since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled Muammar Gaddafi.