UN Spokesman Says Finding New Envoy for Libya is Top Priority

Libyans play backgammon in the old city of Tripoli. (Reuters)
Libyans play backgammon in the old city of Tripoli. (Reuters)
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UN Spokesman Says Finding New Envoy for Libya is Top Priority

Libyans play backgammon in the old city of Tripoli. (Reuters)
Libyans play backgammon in the old city of Tripoli. (Reuters)

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has reaffirmed that finding a Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Support Mission In Libya (UNSMIL) is a “very” high priority.

In his daily briefing on Wednesday, Dujarric was asked how much of a priority is it for the Secretary General to find a new UN Special Representative in Libya.

He responded that the matter was “a very high priority,” noting that another priority is improving the lives of the Libyan people.

The Security Council has adopted a resolution drafted by Britain to extend the UNSMIL mandate for three months.

The African countries and Russia insist that the new UN envoy should be from Africa.



Italy’s Meloni: Recognizing Palestinian State Before It Is Established May Be ‘Counterproductive’

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a press conference with the Algerian president at the end of an Italy-Algeria intergovernmental summit in Rome, Italy, 23 July 2025. (EPA)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a press conference with the Algerian president at the end of an Italy-Algeria intergovernmental summit in Rome, Italy, 23 July 2025. (EPA)
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Italy’s Meloni: Recognizing Palestinian State Before It Is Established May Be ‘Counterproductive’

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a press conference with the Algerian president at the end of an Italy-Algeria intergovernmental summit in Rome, Italy, 23 July 2025. (EPA)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends a press conference with the Algerian president at the end of an Italy-Algeria intergovernmental summit in Rome, Italy, 23 July 2025. (EPA)

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that recognizing the State of Palestine before it is established could be counterproductive.

"I am very much in favor of the State of Palestine, but I am not in favor of recognizing it prior to establishing it," Meloni told Italian daily La Repubblica.

"If something that doesn't exist is recognized on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn't," she added.

France's decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September drew condemnation from Israel and the United States, amid the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas.

On Friday, Italy's foreign minister said recognition of a Palestinian state must occur simultaneously with recognition of Israel by the new Palestinian entity.

A German government spokesperson said on Friday that Berlin was not planning to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution.