Greece and Italy run to Libya to protect their geopolitical interests
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Alaina
- . April 7, 2021
- . Update: April 7, 2021 9:55 pm
On Tuesday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis arrived in Tripoli to meet with Libya’s new unified executive.
On Monday, also the Maltese Robert Abela who announced the reopening of the diplomatic offices. France inaugurated its embassy last week, while today is Greece’s turn. A weighty diplomatic gathering to support the Libyans in the peace process, but above all to safeguard the many geostrategic interests in the North African country. Between reconstruction, oil, gas, and other resources.
A strong signal of European support for the national reconciliation process and the new government of national unity was brought on Sunday by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who met Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and the President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Yunis al Menfi, as well as the Libyan foreign minister, Najla Al Mangoush.
During the talks, Michel announced that the European Union ambassador will return permanently to Tripoli from the end of April. Michel also promised that Europe will intensify its commitment in Libya on the front of economic reconstruction, after a decade of conflict, and will contribute to governance, stability, respect for human rights, and security. As the only precondition, Michel called for foreign fighters to leave Libya, defining compliance with the ceasefire and the arms embargo as crucial for peace.
“We have great confidence in Italian diplomacy and the new unified government of Libya, led by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid al Dabaiba”. The visit of the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, who chose Libya for his first mission abroad since taking office, confirms the strategic importance and the deep bonds of friendship that bind our two countries. Our presence in recent years, despite the circumstances that the Libyans have gone through, has never stopped and today we can say that our hopes have been well placed”. Sandro Fratini, President of the Italian Libyan Business Development Association (ILBDA) stated.
Fratini confirmed, speaking to journalists, that “the ceasefire remains fundamental for any activity we are about to undertake, but there are positive signs that we must take advantage of for our entrepreneurship and business”. In Libya, a range of opportunities is opening up for many young people. Not only in the oil and energy sector, but also for those who work in the construction, trade, communication, technology, aviation, science, pharmaceutical, and catering sectors.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dabaiba expressed his readiness to form joint committees with Greece to discuss the demarcation of maritime borders, underlining the importance of any agreement taking into account the rights of Libya, Turkey, and Greece. During his trip to Tripoli, which followed talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed Athens’ support for Libya to achieve stability and keep the elections away from foreign interference.
The Greek Prime Minister, recalling the historical relations between the two countries, called for the beginning of new relations based on dialogue, trust, and the principles of international legitimacy, underlining the need to correct the mistakes made previously, including the cancellation of documents and agreements signed with third countries that have no legal force, asking for cooperation to redesign maritime borders. The Greek premier reiterated that geography defines relationships. Referring to Turkey and Russia, he added: the real allies are neighboring countries and not distant parties that have tried to create artificial relationships.
