Libyan protests against presence of Italian navy

Ghassan Salama, the head of the United Nations mission to Libya, started his first official mission in Libya, on Saturday, with the meeting of the head of the National Reconciliation Government and his political ally, Abdel Rahman Suwehli, head of the Supreme Council of State in Tripoli.
 
During the meeting, Salama also pledged to work with the government of Al-Serraj and the High Electoral Commission to provide logistical support for all the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections by next spring, if agreed upon by high international standards. The talks focused on the economic, political and security challenges facing Libya.
 
Meanwhile, several protests and demonstrations erupted in several Libyan cities rejecting the agreement reached between the Presidential Council in Libya and the Italian government which stipulates helping Libyan Coast Guard to fight illegal immigration.
 
Videos and photos circulated on social media showing Italian military ships in Libyan regional waters despite news that they had left due to threats from Head of Libyan National Army Marshal Khalifa Haftar who considered their presence a violation of Libyan sovereignty.

Sarraj’s deputy and member of proposed Presidential Council Fathi al-Mujabari announced his support for Haftar’s order to target any military vessel that reaches Libyan waters. Mujabari warned, in a statement, against violating the order. He added that Libyan-Italian friendship treaty and memorandums of understanding do not approve this kind of interventions.
 
Yet, Sarraj ignored all objections and welcomed the Special Representative lauding the UN’s efforts and support aiming at reaching a political solution for the Libyan crisis. Following the meeting, Sarraj said his government is ready to provide all the support for the UN mission, wishing the new envoy success and calling on all parties to cooperate fully with him.
 
Sarraj said he briefed Salame on an agreement he reached with Haftar in Paris."We believe that the Libyan Political Agreement is the basis of any dialogue. It is important to step forward and complete what we started," he added.
 
He also urged UNSMIL to return to operating out of Libya as soon as possible and requested the UN to provide the necessary technical and logistical support so that the presidential and legislative elections proposed next year can be successful.
 
For his part, the Special Representative informed Sarraj that the UN Secretary General is looking forward to seeing Libya in the near future stable and independent.