by Alessandra Cardone
ROME, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Italy was ready to boost its support to the Libyan authorities to help curbing further the migration flows headed to Europe, the Italian defence minister said on Tuesday, after paying a visit to Libya.
"Italy and Libya share the same house, the Mediterranean, and the same resources, but also the same problems, and one of them is definitely migration," Elisabetta Trenta told a press conference held late at Rome Ciampino airport.
The minister declared uncontrolled immigration and terrorism were like "the two sides of the same coin."
"We know there is a risk, although minimal, that terrorists could reach (Italy) through the uncontrolled migration flows," Trenta said.
"For this reason, Italy is going to provide Libya all the support necessary to boost its operational capacity," she added.
The minister held talks in Tripoli with her Libyan counterpart Najim Owida and the head of the UN-backed unity government, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
She confirmed to the Libyan PM "Italy's willingness to start activities -- according to the needs and requirements of the Libyan people -- aimed at stabilizing the internal security of the country, and, as such, strengthening its sovereignty," according to a statement by the Defence Ministry.
During the press conference in Rome, however, the minister did not specify further what Italy's additional support to authorities in Tripoli would consist.
Trenta paid a similar short visit to Tunisia on Monday, talking migration with President Beji Caid Essebsi and Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi in Tunis.
According to Italian media citing ministerial sources, both trips were part of "a coordinated action."
"My visit is part of a systematic approach of the government," Trenta confirmed during the press conference, recalling that her trip to Tripoli had been preceded by two visits paid by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi in June and early July, respectively.
Italy has begun supporting systematically Libya's coast guard with funds and naval means since mid-2017, after the previous center-left government signed a deal with Libyan authorities and factions in an effort to prevent migrants and asylum seekers cross the Mediterranean.
From January to July 24 this year, the country has registered 18,048 sea arrivals -- some 12,088 of which from Libya -- marking a 79.52 percent and 80.68 percent drop compared to the same period of 2016 and 2017, respectively, according to Interior Ministry data.
Overall, it had received 181,436 migrants and refugees in 2016, and 119,369 in 2017.
Soon after being formed in early June, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's new right-wing government -- which took a harder line on migration -- pledged to donate another 12 rescue ships to Tripoli, which would allow Libya's coast guard to more than double its current size.
