The Roundtable “Libya and the Future of Security in the Mediterranean”took place at the Center for High Defense Studies, Italian Ministry of Defense, on the forthcoming May 7. The Roundtable has been organized by the Italian Atlantic Committee in cooperation with “Abhath” – Al Thuraya Consultancy and Researches in Abu Dhabi and the Mediterranean-Gulf Forum.
The Roundtable was aimed to favor cooperation between decision makers and experts on the different topics relating to the Libyan crisis, with a particular attention to the fight against terrorism and to the development of cooperative security strategies in Libya and in other areas of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
In Libya, the promotion of the national reconciliation between the rival factions is key to the stabilization, territorial integrity, good governance and socio-economic development of the country.
The Roundtable stressed a major diplomatic role of Italy in Libya as to the achievement of a political solution to the internal conflict and to the formation of a new national unity government able to stabilize the country. The discussionalso focused on the development of a consistent strategy leading Italy’s action in Libya and in the region, and on the policies to be implemented to effectively face the terrorist threat and the refugee emergency.
In light of the importance of addressing the Libyan crisis for the principles of solidarity and cooperative security in the Mediterranean, the allies in NATO, the EU and the regional strategic partners are called on to undertake a common action against terrorism. What are the steps to be made in order to guarantee a future of security to Libya and the whole Mediterranean?
Government authorities, political leaders and experts from Italy, Europe and the Middle East participated in the Roundtable, including Abdul Ilah Khatib, former UN Special Envoy to Libya and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Mohammed Dahlan, former Minister of State for Internal Security and National Security Advisor of the Palestinian National Authority, Abdelaziz Kotti, a Deputy in the Assemblée des Représentants du Peuple in Tunisia, Noman Benotman, ex jihadist militant and currently an expert on counterterrorism and deradicalization, Michael Frendo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, Benedetto Della Vedova, Undersecretary at Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Fabrizio Cicchitto, President of the Foreign and Community Affairs Commission at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Andrea Manciulli, President of the Italian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Ambassador Mohammed El Orabi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Minister Plenipotentiary Mustafa Alì Rugibani, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Libya to the Holy See, V.Adm Rinaldo Veri, President of the Center for High Defense Studies and commander of the NATO operation Unified Protector in Libya, and Fabrizio Luciolli, President of the Italian Atlantic Committee and the Atlantic Treaty Association.
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