30 May 2016 - The full support of the Italian Government to Sarraj Government in Libya, is today taking another step forward with the first bilateral meeting on transports between Minister Graziano Delrio and Libyan Minister Milad Mohamed Maatough.
“Italy – as the Minister said – considers the Mediterranean sea as a strategic area for the whole Europe and for this reason is looking with great attention to the Libyan efforts to achieve reconciliation and peace”. The main items on the meeting agenda were the re-launch of cooperation on civil airspace, road sector and on the Coast Guard.
“Italy – the Italian Minister stated – offers its full cooperation in providing training and means to enhance the control and security along Libyan coasts. Our Governments put a great emphasis on this relation.
Italy is committed to providing technical and logistical support as well as rescue means to the Northern African Country, in order to improve Libyan coasts’ security, in particular by training the Libyan Coast Guard officials. Migration is a complex and global issue – Minister Maatough said, but we must take care this issue not only from the Northern Mediterranean area but also from the Southern side”.
In the bilateral meeting with the Libyan Minister, the re-opening of airspace as well as the restarting of the infrastructural works that had been suspended, were also discussed. “The normalization of transport is an important tool for promoting the stabilization process of Libya” Minister Delrio stated. As for the re-opening of the airspace, Minister Delrio explained:” We want to re- open airline links soon. But we must achieve this target in full security. There will be an exchange in terms of services and aviation techniques in order to ensure the reopening of airspace in security”.
In the bilateral meeting, another item of the agenda was the motorway project crossing Libya from East to West, which was closed following the effects of the Libyan crisis.
“I have discussed with the Minister on how to restart the Joint Committee and reassess the project, Delrio explained. The rehabilitation of transports in Libya “is important for promoting a significant improvement in the economy and social life of the Libyan Country” Libyan Minister said, in turn. “We are looking forward to continuing bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector, because Libya is the gateway of Italy to Africa and Italy is the gateway of Libya to Europe”.