Eastern parliament in Libya rejects Italian-Al-Serraj deal for naval mission

The Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) has issued a televised statement rejecting any agreements made by the Head of the Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Serraj, with Italy regarding the stemming of illegal immigration in the Libyan waters.

The HoR announced that the request of the Presidential Council’s Head id illegitimate as first it violates the Libyan laws because such agreements must be made by the legislative body (the HoR) and second it violates the Libyan sovereignty.

Italy’s parliament authorized on Wednesday a limited naval mission to help Libya’s coastguard curb migrant flows.

“We warn that the deals made by the Presidential Council are illegal as it is an executive body that has not been given confidence till today by the HoR.” The statement says.

It also warned Italy of violating the Libyan sovereignty by such dubious deals with the Presidential Council, saying that the deal aims at exporting the immigration issue to Libya and returning thousands of African nationals to Libya and thus creating security and stability problems in the country.

“We call on the United Nations to take the needed stance in response to the violation of Libya’s sovereignty by Italy.” The statement indicates.

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