Roundup: Rome conference on Libya sends message for stability: Italian diplomats, experts

The conference on Libya held here on Sunday has sent a message that major countries in the region working together can foster stability, according to Italian diplomats and experts.

"We expect the Libyan process to bring some results in the coming days," European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was quoted by the Italian press as saying before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.

"The agreement for the formation of a government of national unity in Libya must be Libyan-led, but the international community and the EU in particular must support it through all channels," Mogherini said.

Representatives of the international community at the Rome conference on Libya endorsed a United Nations (UN)-backed deal aimed at bringing Libyan rival factions to a unity government to ward off the advance of the Islamic State (IS).

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry co-chaired the meeting, which was attended by ministers from 17 countries and four international organizations (UN, EU, Arab League and African Union).

Gentiloni talked of the "step of turning to the stabilization of Libya," saying there was "a convergence of unprecedented, unanimous support on an understanding reached between the Libyan parties" for the unity government in Libya.

Ministers from western powers, China, Russia, and Libya's neighbors took part in the meeting, as well as those from countries that have a major influence over the Libyan factions such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

In fact, according to Italian experts, Italy has a big advantage compared to other European countries because of its geo-strategic position in the heart of the Mediterranean.

Chawki Senouci, a senior editor at Milan-based Radio Popolare, noted that Italy has historically had very good relations with the southern Mediterranean coast -- Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

"Today, Italy is continuing this historical behavior that I would define as a wise and friendly attitude with the Arab world," Senouci told Xinhua.

Antonello Biagini, an historian and pro-rector for general affairs at Sapienza University of Rome, echoed this, saying that since the end of Second World War, "Italy has had a sort of freedom of action in the Mediterranean and close ties with the Arab world."

Biagini told Xinhua that the "prudent" foreign policy of Italy could be a bridge for dialogue in the present complex scenario in which the international community has had trouble finding a shared strategy to fight a common enemy, namely terrorism.

In his view, Italy continues to be a pole of attraction for countries of the southern Mediterranean coast.

The conference on Libya was held following a three-day forum named Mediterranean Dialogues at which political, economic, security, cultural and media leaders from some 40 countries met to discuss regional crises. Endit