Premier Paolo Gentiloni's government
on Friday approved a resolution for an Italian mission of
support to the Libyan coast guard.
Gentiloni said the Italian mission should be considered "a
step forward in Italy's contribution to the Libyan authorities'
capacity to take the initiative against traffickers and
reinforce their capacity to control their borders and national
territory".
He added after the cabinet meeting that: "it is a piece of
the path of stabilization of Libya and Italy feels it a duty to
participate".
The cabinet "approved what the (Libyan) government requested,
no more, no less," he said.
Gentiloni announced Wednesday that Italy was considering a
request from Libya for the help in combatting human traffickers
after meeting Libyan Premier Fayez al-Sarraj in Rome.
Most of the over 93,000 migrants to have landed in Italy so
far this year started their journey across the Mediterranean
from Libya, which has been affected by chaos since a Paris-led
campaign contributed to the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Gentiloni stressed Friday that the use of Italian vessels to
support Libya would not entail "an enormous deployment of big
feels and air squadrons".
"It can give a significant initiative to support Libya
sovereignty, it is not an initiative against Libyan
sovereignty," he said.
Gentiloni said that he hopes support in parliament for the
mission goes beyond the ruling coalition.
"I hope that parliament can give approval with the broadest
possible consensus," he said.
There is speculation that some left-wingers within the ruling
coalition may rebel over the mission.
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