German Foreign Minister: Libyan forces to train outside Libya as a starter

European training for Libyan forces could more realistically be started outside the country in the initial stages as part of efforts to rebuild the North African state, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Saturday.

Steinmeier and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault visited Tripoli for talks with the new Libyan unity government in a show of support to end fighting among rival factions, and combat militants and migrant trafficking.

“I think it is realistic enough to say we have to start training measures from my point of view outside of Libya,” Steinmeier told reporters, when asked about European training plans. He said training could be in Libya later.

Diplomats say there has yet to be detailed discussion with the new U.N.-brokered Libyan government in defining what kind of assistance it wants from the European Union.

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