In a further sign of Italy's support for a unified Libya, it has named a new consul in the eastern port city of Benghazi ahead of the consulate's reopening. It is also planning an honorary consulate in Libya's southwestern city of Sebha.
"We are reopening our consulate in Benghazi and we have already nominated Carlo Batori as Consul General, while we are also setting up an honorary consulate in Sebha," Di Maio told lawmakers on Wednesday.
"This is to enhance Libya's new-found unity and to ensure the presence of our institutions in Cyrenaica and in Fezzan," Di Maio said.
Italy's embassy in Tripoli was the only one to stay open throughout the decade-long conflict in Libya, Di Maio noted.
"And we have also okayed the re-opening of Italy's foreign trade agency's office in Tripoli and that of the Italian Cultural Institute," he added.
Di Maio announced the "imminent" re-opening of Italy's consulate in Benghazi last week. It was closed in 2013 after gunmen attempted to kill Italy's consul in Benghazi on 12 January that year.
