Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, claimed that the Libyan ceasefire agreement, created new opportunities. He also noted that the IRINI Operation is a tangible sign of EU contribution to resolving the crisis.
According to the Italian news agency, Nova, Di Maio’s visit to Libya on September 1 came days after the Libyan Parliament and the Presidential Council announced a ceasefire in the country. He said that there were differences between the two declarations, but there are common points, such as the need to reactivate oil production.
He explained that the agreement created new opportunities that must be seized. Di Maio specified that in his meetings, he affirmed Italy’s full support for a comprehensive political solution to the crisis, and the activation of the commitments declared in the ceasefire statements into concrete facts.
Di Maio indicated that the EU’s IRINI operation was a tangible sign of European contribution to resolving the conflict, and implementing the UN arms embargo. The EU is also combating the illegal smuggling of petroleum products from Libya.
The European Union launched Operation ‘IRINI’ on 31st March, 2020. It succeeds Operation Sophia, which focused on rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. IRINI’s main objective is to enforce the UN arms embargo, through the use of maritime, aerial, and satellite assets.
Libya’s warring rival governments announced in separate statements on 21st August, that they would cease all hostilities, and organise nationwide elections in March. This understanding was swiftly welcomed by the United Nations.