ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Osama Hammad, the prime minister of the Libyan government appointed by the House of Representatives in the East, outlined in an interview with Italpress the reconstruction plans underway in areas under the control of the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. He also issued an appeal to Italy and European countries for genuine cooperation on the migration issue. Hammad emphasised that after years of stagnation following the fall of the 2011 regime, reconstruction has resumed thanks to the joint efforts of the government and the Army command. “We started from Benghazi, with new bridges, buildings, and the Tika airport, which is 60% completed. The first phase of the port has been finished, and we are building a large stadium. Derna, two years after the tragedy, has been reborn as a modern city with new infrastructure and housing,” he declared.
According to Hammad, the reconstruction process also extends to the south of the country, in cities such as Ajdabiya, Brega, Sirte, and Murzuq — “all areas that are now safe.” On the issue of migration flows, Hammad explained that the army and the Ministry of the Interior have established reception centres in the eastern region, where migrants receive care and assistance before being repatriated. “We have not seen any cooperation from European governments, who do not recognise us and instead support Tripoli. With real cooperation, we could close the routes across the Libyan desert and stop departures,” he said. The eastern prime minister then accused the United Nations and Western powers of having “contributed to Libya’s division” by refusing to recognise his government: “UNSMIL interfered in appointments and prevented legitimate political representation, favouring the fragmentation of the country.”
Hammad estimated that 80% of Libyan territory is now under the control of the General Command led by Haftar, including the south and almost all of the east. Regarding Italian concerns over Russian influence in Cyrenaica, he replied: “Libya is a sovereign state and must be free to cooperate with whoever it chooses — be it Russia, the United States, or Italy. Every partnership must be viewed in the interest of the Libyan people.” Finally, he addressed a direct message to the Italian people: “We have historic and sincere ties with Italy. The Libyan people have great affection for Italians. But we ask the government in Rome to engage in official dialogue with us if it truly intends to solve the issue of illegal immigration. Continuing to deal only with an outgoing government in Tripoli will not bring results.”
– photo eastern Libyan government –
(ITALPRESS)
