Italian Foreign Minister says Libya is not safe port for rescue vessels

Italian foreign minister Enzo Moavero said Tuesday that Libya could not be considered a safe port from a legal standpoint and that it was being treated accordingly by rescue vessels.

The comment came in response to a question at a press conference with his Norwegian counterpart.

”The notion of a safe port and a safe country is linked to international conventions that for the time being have not been signed by Libya,” Moavero said.

”We must stand firm and step up our efforts so that normalization in Libya brings the country fully into the international community, with respect for human and fundamental rights,” he added.

The minister stressed that ”European countries and especially Italy, given the geographical proximity, are highly involved in the stabilization process of Libya” and the November conference will serve as another step in this process.