Roundup: Italian gov't denies claims of naval vessels entering Libyan territorial waters

The Italian government has denied claims of Libya's government which said on Saturday that three Italian ships had entered Libyan territorial waters without prior permission from the Libyan authorities.

Following a statement published on the Italian defense ministry's website which denied the claims on Sunday, Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti insisted in an interview with Rai State broadcaster on Monday that "the news spread by the Tobruk (government) is false."

"Our vessels, which are patrolling the Mediterranean in two missions, were in international waters well away from the Libyan territorial waters," Pinotti highlighted.

The commander of the Libyan air force had said the naval vessels had been spotted off the coast of Benghazi in eastern Libya before heading to the eastern city of Derna. The Libyan government said it would not hesitate to use all means to protect the borders and sovereignty of its land.

Earlier in October, the European Union (EU) launched rescue mission Operation Sophia aiming to intercept boats carrying migrants across the Mediterranean from anarchic Libya. According to the Italian press, the three naval vessels were probably part of the EU operation.

Pinotti highlighted that the Italian naval vessels sailing on the Mediterranean operate in international waters and in compliance with the limits established under the treaties.

She also underscored that "there is no particular tension between Libya and Italy."

Libya has been mired in a conflict between its internationally-recognized government and elected parliament on one side, and a self-styled administration operating in Tripoli on the other.

After months of talks, the UN had drafted a deal to form a national unity government, but both sides differed on some parts of the accord, thus stalling the final agreement.

Leon has recently said "the process to reach an agreement and form a government of national accord will go on despite attempts to derail the process."

Also in an interview with Rai State broadcaster, Italian under-secretary for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Benedetto Della Vedova, stressed on Monday that his country "has been on the front line in the project which aims at finally giving Libya a unity government."

"As past experiences have taught us, the political and diplomatic path, based on the agreement between all the forces at play, is the only viable solution," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Monday was in Algiers to attend trilateral talks with Egypt and Algeria on the Libyan crisis, while on the same day the Tobruk parliament was starting a debate on the UN peace plan that should lead to the national unity government. Endit