Italy's government organised the international conference on Libya that opens in Palermo on Monday in order to support efforts spearheaded by the United Nations to end the turmoil that has engulfed the country and allow Libyans to determine their future, premier Giuseppe stated.
"Italy promoted this conference because it wants to offer a contribution to the UN's framework for stabilising Libya," Conte told reporters as he arrived at Villa Igea, where the meeting was due to kick off at 7pm.
Libya's main power brokers will be in Palermo as well as the leaders of 10 countries including prime ministers and presidents, Conte stated.
"A further 20 countries are being represented by their foreign ministers," Conte stated.
"The main international organisations are also here - all in order to stop the fighting and put Libya on the path towards stability," he went on.
"We are doing this so that the Libyan people can determine their own future through democracy," Conte underlined.
A total of 38 delegations are taking part in the conference, including from the African Union, Arab League, Word Bank and International Monetary Fund, sources at the Italian prime minister's office earlier told Adnkronos.
United Nations special envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame, European Union president Donald Tusk and foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini are also attending the meeting, according to the Italian government.
A list of participants at the conference was not available to media.
While eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar is due to attend a parallel mini-summit being held Monday on Libya's security, his attendance at the main conference was in doubt, Adnkronos learned.
