Italy to help Libya's rebuilding, ready to unfreeze assets: FM

Italy to help Libya's rebuilding, ready to unfreeze assets: FM

 Italy's priority is to cooperate with Libya's new rulers in the reconstruction of the worn-torn nation, visiting Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said here Friday.

The Italian government has agreed to receive more Libyans who were wounded in the civil war, and help with the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) build 13 schools in Libya, according to a joint press conference in the capital Tripoli, which was also hosted by Mahmoud Jibril, chairman of the NTC's executive office.

Frattini meanwhile told reporters that Italy will give the previously-frozen assets of the fallen Muammar Gaddafi's regime to the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. The amount is expected to be 2.5 billion euro (about 3.5 billion U.S. dollars).

Italy, which has taken part in the NATO-led air raids over Libya earlier this year with the aim of toppling Gaddafi's rule, has a number of energy deals with the oil-rich North African country.

Italian companies, if permitted, will also provide assistance in recovering telecommunications in the eastern part of Libya, Frattini said, adding that Rome is also lend a hand in rebuilding the ports and airport in Tripoli.

Italian air companies will open the Rome-Tripoli route this November, while flights from the Italian capital to Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, are expected to start early 2012, Frattini said.

Meanwhile, Jibril said the NTC has talked with the Italian side on holding a meeting to discuss ways to speed up Libya's reconstruction process.

Frattini's visit came after the ones made by a U.S. Senate delegation the previous day, and by British, French and Turkish leaders earlier this month.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

English.news.cn   2011-10-01 00:49:39