Libya: Italy Ready to Send Peacekeepers
Italy has said it is ready to send peacekeepers to Libya after Prime Minister of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Faiez Serraj, called on the UN to send troops to protect civilians trapped in the crossfire since April amid the ongoing military offensive against Tripoli by forces loyal to eastern renegade commander Khalifa Haftar.
Vincenzo Amendola, minister of European Affairs made the remarks to Corriere della on Monday, Libya Obsever reports.
The Italian official also indicated that the EU country has 6,000 forces in peacekeeping missions around the world and that the soldiers should be prioritized for peacekeeping in Libya rather than other westerners, the Libyan media also notes.
“Italy and France should work together with the EU to make countries commit to the decisions that have been taken in Berlin conference and to halt the unjustified foreign military pressure,” Amendola said.
The remarks came following Serraj’s call to the UN in a Sunday interview of German media Die Welt, to send international peacekeepers to Libya “to secure civilians if Khalifa Haftar’s forces continue their offensive on Tripoli.”
The GNA has been facing an overthrow attempt by Haftar who launched a surprise military offensive in April to seize capital Tripoli.
The military bout has left hundreds of people dead and thousands displaced.
Italy is known as one of GNA’s supporters alongside Qatar and Turkey, which have pledged security backing to the weak government.
Turkey has reportedly sent around 2,000 Syrian mercenaries to prop up GNA-aligned forces. Dozens of Turkish military personnel are reportedly present in the Libyan capital to provide assistance.
Haftar on the other hand is receiving backing from Egypt, UAE, Russian mercenaries and several other Arab countries.
On Sunday, world powers and several other countries including Turkey pledged at Berlin Conference to push for peace in the oil-rich African country, to cease military support to the two sides and stick to UN arms embargo imposed on the country in 2011.
