17 Libyan mayors held meetings in Rome, Italy, on Thursday with Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Perrone and representatives from the Italian Foreign Ministry and the National Association of Italian Municipalities.    

The meetings were held as part of cooperation between the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Ministry of Local Government of the UN-proposed Presidency Council under the auspices of the Italian Government

The Libyan mayors engaged in talks over the current political crisis and cooperation between Libya and Italy, in addition to the dilemma of illegal immigration and fuel smuggling.

“An agreement was reached to facilitate Italian visa for Libyans and resumption of Tripoli-Rome flights,” Zuwara Municipality reported.

Regarding illegal immigration and fuel smuggling, the Libyan mayors confirmed that they are doing their utmost to prevent them despite lack of support from the UN-proposed Presidency Council and the Italian Government.

The participants highlighted the importance of the convergence of views between Libya and Italy on major issues and agreed to help Libya’s municipalities to tackle their problems, especially the health ones.

Zuwara Mayor Hafed Ben Sasi held separate meetings with the Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Perrone and a representative from the Italian government on pollution caused by Mellitah Oil and Gas Compound.

He called the Italian side to calibrate the system in the compound in accordance to international environmental standards. He also demanded health support for the locals of the region to combat diseases caused by the pollution.