Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister, Maria Tripoodi, has voiced her country's support for US efforts in Libya, provided that these efforts align with and complement the initiatives led by the United Nations and the road map established by the UN Support Mission in Libya. This stance was articulated during a high-level event in New York, which was co-chaired by US President's Special Advisor for the Middle East and Africa, Brett McGurk, and Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. The meeting, titled "International Support for Peace, Unity, and Prosperity in Libya," took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The event saw participation from various countries, including Germany, the UAE, the UK, France, Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, in addition to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tietje. Tripoodi represented Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, stressing the importance of solidifying progress made in dialogue among Libyan parties and the implementation of the agreement by the "4+4" committee, which aims to overcome obstacles in the electoral process.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during the event, reiterated Turkey's commitment to a unified Libya under a single government. He called on international partners to engage in non-discriminatory dialogue with all active parties across different regions of the country. Fidan also highlighted his recent visits to Tripoli and Benghazi in August, emphasizing the need to unify and strengthen economic and security institutions.
The Italian stance on Libya was further clarified by the Italian news agency, Nova, which suggested that Italy does not intend to choose between the US and UN tracks. Instead, Italy views the US initiative as an additional tool to support the UN-led process aimed at unifying institutions, stabilizing the political and security framework, and eventually conducting elections.
Italy's support for the UN process in Libya includes its role in facilitating the "4+4" agreement, signed on August 30. This agreement focuses on amending certain aspects of the electoral framework and organizing presidential and legislative elections under a single executive authority within 24 months. The agreement was a follow-up to the first meeting of the "4+4" committee, which took place in Rome on April 29 under the auspices of the UN Mission.
The participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Tripoodi in the New York event underscores Italy's central role in Libya's stability and its coordination with major international partners. According to the Italian newspaper, "Farnesina," this participation highlights Italy's commitment to keeping the UN-facilitated political process as a reference point.
The situation in Libya continues to be a subject of international attention, with various initiatives and agreements being proposed to address the country's challenges. Italy's conditional support for US efforts reflects the complexities of international diplomacy in the region, where multiple stakeholders are involved in seeking a peaceful and unified resolution to the Libyan crisis.
Key points
- Italy supports US efforts in Libya provided they complement UN initiatives.
- The "4+4" agreement aims to pave the way for elections in Libya.
- International stakeholders, including Italy, are committed to a unified Libya under a single government.
