Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio expressed his fears regarding an escalation in the Libyan conflict. The Italian Foreign Minister stated that “Libya cannot tolerate [further conflict] […] rather neither Europe, nor Italy can tolerate it.”
Di Maio also voiced concerns about the statements made by the General Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar, who, according to Di Maio, “declared himself the leader of the whole of Libya”.
“For us, the political dialogue referred to by the Berlin Conference remains the only concrete option to bypass the Libyan crisis”, he added, emphasizing the need to stop the entry of weapons and put an end to “the proxy war by using diplomatic means.”.
The Foreign Minister stressed that there was no alternative to a political solution in Libya and that neither Europe nor Italy “will ever support a military solution” in Libya.
Di Maio explained that the upcoming UN envoy must remain neutral and stated that “We must choose him from those countries that do not participate, directly or indirectly, in the conflict”.
Di Maio also renewed calls to reopen oil facilities that have been closed since January 18, 2020.