LIBYA RUSSIA & ITALY

On Monday 27.3.2017, the Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano has flown on a visit to Russia.

That of chief diplomat was the first of a round of visits that will continue with the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella,who will be in Moscow in April, and the prime minister Paolo Gentiloni in May (just after the first meeting in Washington with Donald Trump). Italy, said Alfano, believes that Russia is "a very reliable partner in energy supply and in combating terrorism."

Hence one of the themes at the center: Libya, where energy issues and terrorism fit together. The North African country is still suffering from the old divisions of at least three years (but in fact are more or less double), and this despite the establishment of a wannabe-premier, Fayez Serraj,chosen by the UN to lead the Libyan reunification. Italy is the main sponsor of the UN system program, while in recent months Russia has run blatantly manifested behind its main opposition, the one that has based in the east of the country and is led by a general political, Khalifa Haftar,sponsored by Egypt and the Arab Emirates. Two positions at least in appearance seem conflicting. "We must encourage an inclusive dialogue - said Lavrov - and stop betting on a single force, of Tripoli at the expense of Tobruk, or vice versa. When even the West will understand, you will have some results. " Even Italy "wants a role for Haftar, but inside the Serraj government under the UN auspices" explained Alfano, making it less clear distance between the two locations.

On Friday, during a press conference, General Thomas Waldhauser, head of Africom (Pentagon command that manages operations in Africa), confirmed to reporters the revelations of a scoop Reuters two-week ago: There are Russian soldiers, probably men of the special forces, in Egypt, near the border with Libya."I'm on the ground, they are trying to influence the situation, look what they do with great concern and you know, in addition to the military side we have seen and known, a bit 'of recent activity in business initiatives," said the US general.
Russia finished with the NOC (Libyan oil Corp) an oil deal a few weeks ago, probably these are the "business initiatives" referred to by Waldhauser. With a note: what does Moscow is exactly the same as they do and they did the Americans, British, French and Italian, just that the Russians are on the other side with an "undeniable connection Haftar", says the general, while the Western support Serraj. Another note: Russia is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, which is the organ operational program which also supports the UN in Libya, of which Italy this year is a temporary member.