Dubai: Italy’s foreign minister on Sunday dismissed the idea that foreign military intervention could end the civil war in Libya.
“It would be in the interest of all the neighbour countries and of Europe and of the Arab world to refrain from encouraging violence in Libya,” said Paolo Gentiloni in an interview with Gulf News in Dubai.
Islamist and government forces have been fighting over control of the oil-rich North African country since May.
Gentiloni was in the UAE to meet with Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the Libyan crisis.
“We have a common interest, the UAE and Italy, to cooperate for the stabilisation of Libya,” Gentiloni said.
Gentiloni, who said the civil war in Libya is a major concern for Italy’s national security, met with Shaikh Abdullah for three hours. It was Gentiloni’s first visit outside of Europe since we has appointed as foreign minister in October.
“Italy and the UAE cannot accept division of this country,” Gentiloni said.
The Italian government is trying to help broker a deal that will bring together moderate factions to re-start the reconciliation process and “help them build a road map to a new government.”
“Time is running [out]. We need to have results of the reconciliation process between the moderate forces of the different sides. No sides can prevail with force in Libya,” Gentiloni said.
