On Thursday, the UAE Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held a telephone conversation with his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio. They discussed recent regional and international developments, especially with regard to the Libyan crisis.
In a statement, the Italian FM said that they had discussed the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, in addition to ways of enhancing bilateral relations.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed the importance of reaching a political solution that preserves the unity and territorial integrity of Libya, while restoring state institutions. He also stressed his rejection of any measures threatening stability in the eastern Mediterranean and called on Turkey to end its interference in Arab affairs.
The two sides also touched on the peace accord between the UAE and Israel, and its important role in consolidating the foundations of security, and stability in the region.
Sheikh Abdullah affirmed the depth of the bilateral relations between the UAE and Italy, and the continuous keenness to strengthen them. This includes further developing areas of cooperation, in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples.
Regarding Libya, dialogue sessions have been held in Morocco since Sunday, between the two rival parties to the conflict. The delegates are from the eastern-based Parliament and the Tripoli-based High Council of State. The intended goals of the discussions are to preserve the ceasefire, and open negotiations to end the differences between the parties. The two delegations negotiated until Tuesday.
Libya has been marred in violence between competing forces, militias, and extremists since the toppling and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The conflict is now between the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, for control of the country.