Frattini’s mission to Libya – Italy confirms its role of “leading player” in post-Gaddafi Libya
ROME, Italy, September 30, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Frattini’s mission to Libya – Italy confirms its role of “leading player” in post-Gaddafi Libya
“Anyone who is concerned that, because of some alleged previous failure to visit Libya, Italy has lost focus and is losing ground to the advantage of our competitors is not taking into account all the diplomatic and collaborative initiatives put in place. And, most notably, they are failing to take into account the features peculiar to the Italian position. Our obligation and interest was to operate with greater discretion and with full respect for the Libyan people. Our discretion, however, did not limit – but rather strengthened – the effectiveness of our actions. We intend to continue to focus primarily on our soft power and on our friendship with the Libyan people”.
These statements were made by Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, announcing his visit to Libya which is taking place today, Friday 30 September. “A mission”, he writes, “that I would like to use as a starting point for some considerations on our policy towards Libya and, more in general, towards the Arab Spring”.
“In Libya, by virtue of our past and recent history, we were more exposed than others to the uncertainties raised by regime change. Yet I believe we have managed to stay in the front line, in both diplomatic and military terms, in the international coalition and to position ourselves for a role of leading player in the post-Gaddafi era. We were one of the first countries to recognise the new representatives of the Libyan people, install a diplomatic presence in Benghazi and send an Ambassador to the new Tripoli. With the new Libyan leadership we have created a joint Coordination Committee which will soon be meeting in Tripoli at the highest political level. The aim is to reactivate the Italian-Libyan Friendship Treaty: an instrument that underscores and preserves Italy’s unique position in the country. And in the meantime, ENI has resumed its operations there”.
According to the head of Italian diplomacy, “Relations with Libya, and more in general with the countries of the Arab Spring, can be set in the framework of promoting our regional and multilateral vision of the Mediterranean. A vision that is based on two principles: economic development and regional cooperation. We have defended the idea of a Marshall Plan for the Arab Spring countries, to prevent frustrations and a shift towards extremism in the people of the region, who voiced their desire for ‘bread and democracy’. This idea took concrete form with the Deauville Partnership which, by bringing together the resources of the G8 countries, the international institutions and the Gulf countries, will mobilise tens of billions of dollars over the next two years”.
“On 28 November I will be chairing a meeting of the 5+5 (the five southern European and five Maghreb countries) that will be the first concrete attempt to revitalise regional cooperation with and between the countries of North Africa after the Arab revolutions. A further initiative that we are taking forward concerns the definition of a confidence-building model among the countries of the region, along CSCE lines. An ‘enlarged’ Mediterranean, a Mediterranean that is prosperous and stable, requires, in addition to our actions, a strong and cohesive European presence. This should start with the peace process, where Italy is actively supporting the European Union’s efforts to restart the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in the difficult context created by the Palestinian application for UN recognition”.
SOURCE
Italy – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
