An Italian warship has arrived in Abu Sitta Naval Base in Tripoli with a number of experts from Italy aboard in a work visit that will last for five days, Italian Aki news agency reported the spokesman of the Libyan Navy Force, Ayoub Qassim as saying.
Qassim added Wednesday that the visit comes as a continuation of boosting the cooperation in technical and fighting fields as well as in training between Libya and Italy's naval force personnel and coastguards.
He also added that on Tuesday, a delegation from the EU arrived in Tripoli to meet with the Libyan officials. The EU delegation included the Head of the European Union Delegation to Libya, Bettina Muscheidt, the Head of EUBAM, Vincenzo Tagliaferri, the Head of the EU Liaison and Planning Cell, Brigadier General Mauro De Vincentis and Admiral Virdis, EU Naval Force MED – Operation SOPHIA, who were received by the Chief of the Libyan Navy, Chief of the Libyan Coastguards and other officials.
Qassim said they discussed in the meeting the third stage of the MoU including the arms support for the Libyan patrols outside the Libyan territorial waters.
"We also agreed on forming a joint committee for the Libyan naval force and the EU to kick off cooperation like that with the coastguard through the MoU." Qassim indicated.
The EU delegation also urged for serious tackling of illegal immigration starting by resolving the issue from southern Libya, especially the threats of the demographic change.