Italy’s top diplomat held talks with General Khalifa Haftar, leader of the self-declared Libyan National Army (LNA) in a bid to strengthen ties, the Italian foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanese’s trip on Monday to the eastern city of Benghazi comes as part of Italy’s wider attempt to stabilise Libya and move the legislative process forward. The two men “had a long and cordial conversation in Benghazi, relaunching Libya’s close relationship with Italy in a climate of consolidated trust,” the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement. The LNA, in a statement, said the two men discussed “the upcoming Libyan elections and ways of guaranteeing their transparency”. Accused by his opponents of wanting to establish a new military dictatorship, Haftar refuses to recognise the authority of Sarraj’s GNA.

Source: Libya Today September 11, 2018 09:11 UTC