Important representatives of the EU who wanted to talk about the migration problem in eastern Libya have not achieved success. They had to turn around immediately after arrival. At the airport of Benina, about 19 kilometers east of the city of Benghazi, they were not welcome.
This is the European Commissioner for the Interior and Migration Magnus Brunner, the Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi and two political representatives from Greece and Malta. They were declared persona non grata, the authorities from Benghazi said. Italian media talk about a unique case without precedents.
Shortly before, the European team had visited the Libyan capital Tripoli to talk about the migration, where it was welcome. But in the important port city of Benghazi, in the northeast of Libya, General Khalifa Haftar has been traveling for around eight years. This is directly opposed to the government in Tripoli.
Libya actually divided into two areas of power
The country is therefore actually divided into two areas of power. “The planned visit of the Ministers of the Interior of Italy, Greece and Malta and the European Commissioner for Migration, together with their accompanying delegation, was canceled on their arrival at Benina International Airport. They were properly informed about the obligation to immediately leave the Libyan territory and were declared Persona STAMA STO STO STAGAAD,” Hammad.
According to the authorities of Benghazi, the European politicians have “violated the established diplomatic norms and international treaties,” and would have shown “actions that demonstrate at least for the Libyan national sovereignty”. Their arrival would be ‘contrary to the Libyan domestic laws’.
Haftar has good relationships with Russia and better ties with Turkey
General Haftar maintains good relationships with Russia and is developing increasingly closer ties with Turkey. However, he is also important for Europe in combating migration flows from that side. A few days ago he had received the Greek Foreign Minister. In exchange for limiting the migration flow to Europe, he asks for, among other things, financial support and help to improve the infrastructure. HAFTAR has also regularly received Italian ministers. This makes the refusal of the European team all the more striking.