Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, will pay a visit to Rome to discuss a number of files, with with Italian top officials. One of the most important files to be discussed is the Libyan file, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova.
“It is expected that discussions will be held with Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, and Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, on an in-depth exchange of views between Moscow and Rome,” Zakharova said in a statement on Friday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry statement added that the talks will also focus on the NATO file, the situation in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, as well as developments in the Mediterranean.
It is noteworthy that Lavrov and his Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Mangoush, called for a gradual and synchronized withdrawal of the foreign troops from Libya.
During a joint press conference in Moscow, Al-Mangoush stressed that the withdrawal should be synchronized from the two sides to “ensure a balance on the ground.”
Lavrov said Moscow and Tripoli support the withdrawal of all foreign military personnel, without exception, from Libyan territory. He also called for international solidarity to rebuild the institutions of the Libyan state, focusing on his country’s support to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC).