Oct 22, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
The Libyan
Interior Ministry of the Government of National Unity (GNU) announced the
completion of intensive training for its Coastal Security Administration in
Italy.
This training focused on communications, radar, and maritime navigation. The program is part of agreements signed between Libya and Italy, aiming to enhance the performance of Libyan security personnel.
In a move
to bolster Mediterranean ties, a specialised committee convened on Tuesday to
discuss reactivating the Friendship Treaty between Libya and Italy. This treaty
was signed in 2008 and stands as a testament to the cooperative spirit between
the two nations.
The
committee primarily assessed the challenges associated with the Emsaad-Ras
Ajdir route’s implementation, a crucial aspect of the treaty.
Members
unanimously agreed to streamline communication with relevant sectors, gather
necessary data, and set up a strategic meeting with Italian representatives.
This meeting aims to explore further avenues for reinvigorating the treaty’s
provisions.
With their
intertwined history and shared regional interests, this initiative signals a
promising direction for Libya-Italy relations.
The 2008
treaty was signed by former Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and
Moammar Gaddafi. It was suspended in February 2011, amid the Libyan revolution.
The treaty
provides for Italian investments in Libya worth €5 billion euros, as
compensation for its colonisation of the country. In return, Libya pledged to
limit migration from its coasts and accept the return of migrants to Libya
after their departure. This has been condemned by human rights defenders.
Both Prime
Ministers met and discussed a number of issues, most notably joint cooperation
on migration, combating organised crime, and counterterrorism.
Italy’s
colonial past in Libya, from 1911-1943, had long been a source of tension. The
treaty was seen as Italy’s formal acknowledgement of the suffering and damage
caused during this period, committing to a €5 billion investment in Libya, over
25 years as compensation.
Apart from
the compensation, the treaty emphasised collaborative efforts in areas like
infrastructure, cultural exchanges, energy, and environmental cooperation.
Fanpage,
Libya Review,