Europe united on need for departure of foreign mercenaries from Libya

Fatma Abdelghani

The new executive authority in Libya faces a number of challenges, including the unification of the military establishment, disbanding militias across Libya and bringing order back to the streets before holding elections at the end of this year.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Italy held talks in Tripoli on March 25 with the members of the new government in Libya, in an apparent show of support from Europe to the new executive authority in the Arab country.

The three ministers held a joint press briefing following their talks with the members of the Libyan government and declared support to this government.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said his visit and the visit of his German and Italian counterparts to Tripoli aims to send a message of support to the new Libyan government.

“We cannot overlook the potential effects of the Libyan crisis on Europe when it comes to security, terrorism and immigration,” Le Drian said.

He said Libya’s stability was important for the stability of North Africa, the Sahel region and the Mediterranean.

He called for the exit of foreign mercenaries from Libya.

This, he said, would help the Libyan government impose full control on Libyan territories.

A French diplomatic source said, meanwhile, that some Syrian mercenaries had started departing Libya.

This, he said, is an encouraging gesture. The same source noted that the exit of the mercenaries from Libya would help improve the situation in the North African country.

He called for the exit of all foreign troops from Libya, not only the Syrian mercenaries.