Libyan-Italian operations room denies Italy’s intent to build military base in Libya

BY Libyan Express Sep 17, 2017 - 09:55

Fayez Al-Sirraj and Paolo Gentiloni sign agreement in last February (Photo: Archive-Internet)

The joint Libyan-Italian operations room of the Government of National Accord has denied the news circulated by Aki news agency that the GNA and Italy agreed on building Italian military camps in southern Libya.

The head of the room, Tarek Shanbour told Alnabaa TV Channel – a local Libyan channel – that Aki mistranslated the final statement of the meeting between the Libyan-Italian committee for combating illegal immigration in Rome last Friday.

He also added that the agreement will in fact see Italy send a mission to help Libyan border guards in stemming illegal immigration influx from the southern borders, besides helping support and repair the detentions and shelter centers of the immigrants.

On Friday, Aki said Italy agreed with Libya to send a mission to control Libya’s southern borders and help end immigrants’ influx into the country, adding that this would be a project funded by the European Union.

It also said that the mission is going to be a kind of a logistic base to be built in Libya’s south.

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