Libya, Benghazi government rejects EU delegation with Piantedosi

The government of eastern Libya rejected a delegation of European ministers on their arrival in Benghazi. This was reported by Afp citing a communiqué by the authorities of eastern Libya, a parallel government to the one in Tripoli. The delegation included the EU commissioner for migration and the interior ministers of Greece, Malta and Italy's Matteo Piantedosi. The note mentions a 'failure to comply with the entry and stay procedures for foreign diplomats established by the Libyan government and upon their arrival they were notified of their 'obligation to leave Libyan territory as non-gratae persons'. At the heart of the European mission is the issue of managing migratory flows. Indeed, departures towards Italy have increased from the North African country.

Qualified sources explained that there was "a protocol misunderstanding not handled by the Italian representation at the basis of the halt to the diplomatic mission" with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi in Benghazi, Libya. The problem, the same sources emphasised, "has never in any way concerned the Italian component of the delegation and even less the bilateral relations with Italy.

"Yet another blackmail by Haftar". This is how Libyan sources in Tripoli commented on what had happened. The 'case' broke out when at the Benghazi airport, contrary to what had been agreed with General Khalifa Haftar, as is usually the case during such visits, some ministers of the parallel government of the east led by Osama Hammad, not recognised by the international community, showed up to welcome the delegation. A 'meeting' that, had it taken place, would have meant giving legitimacy to that executive, putting it on an equal footing with the one in Tripoli. "A compromise was attempted, but they wanted to create the case," explain sources in Brussels, clarifying that it was the Libyans' decision to cancel the mission during which the fight against illegal immigration was to be discussed. As was the case in Tripoli in the morning, where the European delegation had met the premier of the national unity government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

"I will discuss this with Piantedosi as soon as possible," said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani commenting on reports that Libya's eastern government had turned away a delegation of European ministers, including Italian Interior Minister Piantedosi, on their arrival in Benghazi.