ROME (Sputnik) — Italy supports territorial integrity of Libya and works on preserving the country's stability jointly with France, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said on Monday.
"Italy has been supporting integrity of Libya by developing ties with Libyan Government of National Accord headed by Fayez Sarraj over the last months while keeping channels for dialogue and humanitarian cooperation with the eastern parts of the country open," Alfano said at the Italian Ambassadors Conference.
Alfano stressed that stability in Libya is one of the key issue for the Mediterranean states. He noted that recent visits of French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Italy proves the country's determination for joint work on the issue.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would visit Libya on Tuesday to meet with major sides to the Libyan conflict, namely, Sarraj and Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar.
Libya has been in a state of turmoil since its long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011. In December 2015, Libya’s two rival governments — the internationally-recognized Council of Deputies in Tobruk and the Islamist-dominated General National Congress in Tripoli — agreed to create a Government of National Accord and end the political struggle.
UN efforts in the region resulted in creation of Libyan Government of National Accord headed by Sarraj, which came into power on March 31, 2016. Haftar, a military commander in the country's east, refused to accept the authority of the UN-backed government.
