Italy Considers Reopening Embassy in Tripoli

Italy is considering to reopen its embassy in Tripoli, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Tuesday.

ROME (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Gentiloni arrived in Libya's capital of Tripoli with an unplanned visit. According to media reports, he met Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, who is heading the long-anticipated UN-backed Government of National Accord, which started to perform its duties on March 31.

Italy is "is considering reopening its diplomatic delegation" in Tripoli, but " unable to give information on a precise date for the reopening of our embassy in Tripoli," Gentiloni said at a news conference, as quoted by the Al-Hayat newspaper.

He welcomed the creation of the Government of National Accord, and pledged to help Libya in the fight against terrorism.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil for years after the Arab Spring protests in early 2011 led to a civil war and the brutal overthrow of long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In December, Libya’s rival governments (the internationally-recognized Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress) agreed to create a Government of National Accord and end the political struggle.

Last week, Gentiloni welcomed the news that a Tripoli-based administration was stepping down, while the General National Congress (GNC) has decided to support the interim government led by Sarraj.