INTERVIEW WITH ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MR. GENTILONI - 4.8.2015

Gentiloni: "Libya's future is at stake. The agreement with Tripoli is possible," Foreign Minister: "Peace can be between Tobruk and the Islamists." Yes, to mayor of Zuwara opinion.  "The Libyan society wants the agreement"

DESTINY Libya depends on Libyans. If there is an agreement negotiating the prospect of stability, it cannot be imposed from outside. Our goal is to facilitate an agreement in any way, we are ready to help out at all levels, from the economy to security, and we are ready also to isolate individual sanctions whoever try to sabotage the agreement, but the Libyans are in having to decide their fate. "Our Foreign Minister Gentiloni sends today a clear message to Libya, after that last Friday flew to Algiers to meet, along with the UN mediator Bernardino Leon, the leadership of Gnc (Parliament) of Tripoli.

How did it go? "I picked up gladly UN envoy invitation to make an extra effort to keep them in the peace process.

I believe that Italian participation was useful, we will see in coming days if GNC position  changes. We need to know that preliminary agreement reached on July 12 already involves a significant number of components and therefore self-exclusion of Libyan Tripoli govt would be a mistake. "

But the agreement framework desired by Leon, which recognizes the Tobruk rights but much less Tripoli ones, is realistic given that GNC still controls much of Tripoli? "

The agreement was signed by Tobruk Parliament, internationally recognized, notables of Misrata and Zintan and several municipalities, Tripoli included. Of course, an agreement by which the GNC decided to stay out would be weak. But if they are called out, they lose their ability to assert their rights to the table where attachments enclosures (Ministers appointments etc.) will be discussed '

What affect the inclusiveness of peace process in the liberation of our four compatriots kidnapped in Tripoli? " It's hard to say. There are credible claims and now appears more likely to be of organizations acting on extortion rather than political reasons. But we are working with the cooperation of all, in terms of intelligence. "

How do you judge the appeal of Zuwara Mayor, the ANC president, made in an interview to our newspaper, to participate in a dialogue among municipalities? "It's a very useful idea, we must remember that the actors who have a weight in the context are many. That even by municipalities can come positive contributions and that can happen also in relation to the Italian cities is a positive thrust. My impression also is that within Libyan society today there is a large majority in favor of an agreement. Leave the country in conflicts with criminal groups would be madness. "

Economic interests in Libya are largely in Tripoli. Wasn’t a mistake to close the embassy in Tripoli? "We have closed our embassy in February, having been for a long time the only one in Western countries. The objective we have closed is safety reasons. But we do not abandon Libya to its fate. "
Unlike Italy, Europe realizes that you have a potential Somalia to their doors? " The work that we Italians are doing both in EU and NATO headquarters is to urge Libya issue at forefront of international agendas, produced last year significant results. Do not forget that issue of Libya is now in centre of top EU officials and that on migration mission there is twofold commitment: Europe launched naval mission and UN has defined a draft resolution to provide an overview of international legitimacy to 'further stages' of this mission. Not cheap. "

So far game seems only for phase one of the naval mission anti smugglers. Later phases will be triggered only if there will be a reliable partners in Libya? " Next steps require further decision by the European Council, which should be based on a framework of international legality. So with UN resolution, which is basically defined, and that is also based on the fact that there is only one Libyan govt asking for UN intervention against trafficking in human beings. "

A ground intervention is out of the question? " No adventure on our part. We have been very clear in saying that Italy is ready to contribute if and when the stabilization process will begin, in the forms that will be required by Libyans and internationally agreed. We will do our part and it will be relevant. 

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