Italy wants to settle the Libyan crisis with France, while Libyan parties participate only to ‘rally behind’ the Palermo conference and observe negotiations, analyst Mohamed Chubar said on Monday.
The conference’s schedule does not include clear and detailed points of might concern to Libyans, he told 218 news.
He added that the conference will criticize illegal immigration, which is the most important issue Italy is concerned about as it has sparked many disagreements between Italy and France.
In August 2018, Italy called on France and Spain to offer their ports for the disembarkation of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, but it has failed to garner the backing of the EU member states.
Chubar expressed his disappointment that the major countries have not attended the conference although Italy has prepared well for the conference.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ismail al- Mahishi pointed out that the states in the conference should exert pressure on Libyan parties to unify the executive authority and end to prolonged crisis.
The Palermo Conference on Libya, which kicked off Monday, brings together the main Libyan parties, with the purpose of defining platforms for negotiation between the different components of Libya’s fragmented political arena.
Sources told 218 that intensive security precautions have been adopted by the Italian security authorities. About 3,000 police, special forces, and intelligence personnel will take part in securing the meeting and members of international delegations.
The security plan includes imposing a three-kilometer security cordon around the hotel that will host the conference and the residences of guests and participants.
Aerial surveillance will be set around the clock in the area during the conference, and jamming devices will be deployed.
The Italian authorities asked the residents of the area to evacuate their houses or restrict their movement starting from Nov. 8, until the end of the conference and the departure of guests on Nov. 13.
