Italian PM arrives in Libya for official talks

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte arrived in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Sunday where he held talks with Prime Minister of the UN-backed unity government Fayez Sarraj.

The talks tackled the current political situation in Libya and means of bolstering bilateral relations, according to a statement issued by Sarraj’s office.

During their meeting, Sarraj briefed the Italian premier on the current situation in the conflict-ridden country and steps taken by his government for introducing economic and security reforms, the statement said.

For his part, Conte expressed keenness on boosting bilateral ties and supporting an economic reform program adopted by Sarraj in September with a view to improving living standards in Libya.

Libya has remained dogged by turmoil since when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of long-serving President Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Currently, two rival seats of power are vying for supremacy in Libya: an internationally recognized national unity government based in Tripoli, and a government supported by a legislative assembly based in the eastern city of Tobruk.