Rome, Paris, Promise 'initatives' On Libya Crisis

Rome, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Apr, 2019 ) :France and Italy will work on "initiatives" for Libya as there is no military solution to the crisis, the countries' foreign ministers said on Friday.

The pledge came as the attempted offensive by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on Tripoli has thrown into sharp relief the divisions between world powers over how to end the chaos that has riven Libya since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

"There is no military solution to solve the complex political issues in Libya," Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi told reporters after a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.

"The crisis could become dangerous... (because) the elements of a deterioration are there," Le Drian warned.

France and Italy, Libya's former colonial power, are therefore working closely on the issue because "there can be no progress in Libya without a solid Franco-Italian agreement", he said.

He added that recent difficulties between Rome and Paris were now "behind us".

Relations between the two countries fractured in February following repeated clashes with Italy's populist coalition government.

The two foreign ministers promised "initiatives" on the Libyan situation although they did not give details, adding that a top-level meeting of French and Italian diplomats and other countries with a direct interest in the Libyan crisis would take place soon.