Italian FM meets Libya rebels' TNC head
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Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini met Libyan rebels' Transitional National Council (TNC) chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil Tuesday to discuss ways of ending the Libyan conflict.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Frattini invited other countries to acknowledge the TNC. Currently, only France, Qatar and Italy have recognized the Libyan rebels.
The meeting focused on two crucial issues set to be at the core of a high-level contact group meeting on Libya to take place in Rome in the first week of May. "First, ways by which to support the economic revival of Libya by freeing the assets frozen by the UN 1973 resolution and reopening Libyan oil exports. Second, how to boost the Libyan population's self-defense as the conflict degenerates," Frattini said.
Frattini urged world nations to assume responsibilities in increasing protection to civilians, adding that Italy was in favor of giving the TNC intelligence instruments and radars but ruled out the possibility of sending ground troops to Libya.
Italy would also intensify its humanitarian mission by treating injured Libyans in Italian hospitals and sending more medical staff to the field, he said.
Jalil said the TNC was in favor of democracy, against terrorism and that it would intensely cooperate in tackling illegal immigration and human trafficking.
The TNC head said the NATO raids were not enough to end the crisis and demanded Libyan assets be freed and employed to provide people with food and medicine.
Regarding Italy-Libya relations, Frattini said all previous agreements would be respected, while new treaties would soon be launched aimed at supporting the revamp of the Libyan economy.
It was Jalil's first official trip abroad as head of the Libyan rebels. In Rome, he also met with head of state Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Senate leader Renato Schifano and an Italian delegation of businessmen.
