Foreign powers are fighting a proxy war in Libya that poses a risk of terrorism and instability in North Africa and the Sahel, Italy's foreign minister warned Thursday, re-launching a plea for United Nations mediation in the escalating conflict.
"At present, there is a civil war which foreign powers are turning into a proxy war through their meddling, " Di Maio told a ceremony in Brindisi to mark the 25th anniversary of the UN's peacekeeping and logistics facility.
"This does not just mean war in Libya but a terrorism threat a few hundred kilometres from Italy's coast and instability in much of North Africa and the Sahel," Di Maio said.
"This a major problem for the Mediterranean region," Di Maio added.
Now more than ever, the UN has an indispensable role to play in the "critical crisis" unfolding in Libya, Di Maio argued.
"The Mediterranean could be a major development opportunity, also for Italian companies. Like never before, we need the UN to resolve the critical crisis in Libya," Di Maio added.
Italy fully supports all efforts to "get Libya's rival political forces around the table" at a planned peace conference in Berlin, Di Maio stated.
"It is to be hoped that a peaceful resolution to the conflict can be found," Di Maio underlined.
