Head of UN-installed Presidential Council Fayaz Sirraj has denied media reports of his request to the Italian government to send navy vessels to the Libyan waters to combat illegal immigration.
In a statement on Thursday, Sirraj said the reports are baseless and aimed at undermining the outcome of Paris meeting.
“We agreed with the Italian government to continue its support to the Libyan Navy through training and supply of military equipment that enable us to conduct rescue operation of migrants and combat human traffickers, in addition to supplying us with electronic monitoring equipment to our southern borders”, he explained, adding that “the sovereignty of Libya is a redline”.
According to Italian media outlets, Sirraj told the Italian Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, during their talks in Rome on Wednesday that Libya wants Italian ships to operate in the Libyan waters to help combat human traffickers.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Italian Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, Fabrizio Chiquito, confirmed on Thursday that Fayaz Sirraj had requested an Italian intervention in the Libyan waters. According to the Italian news agency AKI, Chiquito said Sirraj’s request will be accepted by the Italian Parliament as soon as it is referred by the government.
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his government will forward the Libyan request of naval mission to the Italian Parliament next Tuesday.
Italy’s Corriere della Sera reported on Thursday that Italy is considering deploying a large vessel and at least five smaller ships to patrol Libyan waters. It said Aeroplanes, helicopters and drones would also be used in the operation which could be staffed by between 500 and 1,000 military personnel.
