Italy Says It Supports Bathily’s Efforts to Hold Elections in Libya

 Illegal migrants arrive by boat at a naval base after they were rescued by the Libyan coastguard in the coastal city of Tripoli, Libya, May 10, 2017.
Illegal migrants arrive by boat at a naval base after they were rescued by the Libyan coastguard in the coastal city of Tripoli, Libya, May 10, 2017.
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Italy Says It Supports Bathily’s Efforts to Hold Elections in Libya

 Illegal migrants arrive by boat at a naval base after they were rescued by the Libyan coastguard in the coastal city of Tripoli, Libya, May 10, 2017.
Illegal migrants arrive by boat at a naval base after they were rescued by the Libyan coastguard in the coastal city of Tripoli, Libya, May 10, 2017.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani affirmed on Tuesday his country's support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy Abdoullaye Bathily to hold elections in Libya.

Tajani said in a press conference at the Foreign Press Association in Italy that his country supports the efforts of the UN envoy to allow holding elections as soon as possible, and to achieve stability.

The FM affirmed that Italy has also initiated talks with all Libyan parties, including Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar, “who controls a large part of the east,” according to the Nova Agency.

“We are providing patrol boats to the Libyan Coast Guard to fight illegal migration,” he said.

The boats were offered thanks to a fund by the European Union, according to Tajani.

The two countries have also reached agreements in the field of energy, the FM affirmed, adding that Rome “is intensively working with all parties in this severely divided country.”



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
TT

Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”