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Situation in Libya "still extremely bad": Austrian FM

Xinhua, May 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz described the present situation in Libya as "still extremely bad" during a visit there on Monday, according to an Austria Press Agency report.

The one-day visit was unannounced for security reasons, with both the refugee crisis and Austrian economic interests in the civil-war stricken country on the agenda.

Kurz, who was welcomed by his counterpart Mohamed Taher Siala at the military airport in Tripoli, told journalists the visit should be a "clear sign of support for the unified government."

The way forward will still take some time, he said, but added that there is no alternative than to support the unified government.

Also among Kurz's delegation were Austria business heads, such as Rainer Seele, CEO of oil and gas giant OMV.

Austria notably had good business relations prior to the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, that could resume should the situation in Libya stabilize.

The delegation also met with other members of the unified government under very tight security. Endit