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Restoring security in Libya concerns Italy: FM Milanesi

Italian Foreign Minister, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, stressed the importance of restoring security in Libya for his country, in a press statement on Wednesday from Brussels.

“We have to bring Libya back to normalcy,” Milanesi said, adding, “This is necessary for us. Libya is on the other side of the Mediterranean, not only with regard to migrants, but also in regards to the issue of security, in the strict sense of the word.”

On migration flows in particular, the Italian official affirmed “the Libyan search and rescue zone [off the coast of Libya] requires more special attention than the other areas in the Mediterranean. This attention applies to us and to Malta and Libya. The question of the ability of different countries to intervene is still a developing process due to various European operations.”

Libya is a high priority for Italy in terms of border security and economic relations. The two Mediterranean countries have historic strong ties in different fields.

In November 2018, Palermo hosted an international conference to discuss security and stability in Libya, inviting the key political sides in the North African state. Rome tries to play mediator among Libyan rival groups aiming to find a solution to the conflict and division plagued the country since 2014 following the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

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