ROME- The Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salamé, is set to conduct a set of talks and meetings in Rome on Tuesday during the first European stage of his diplomatic tour, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

 The Paris-based Lebanese academic met the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano to search for a solution to the evolving political crisis in the North African nation. This is Salamé’s first visit in Europe since taking on his new role in the UN on June 22 and is particularly important since it is the first meeting to follow those that took place in Tripoli and eastern Libya. The visit aims to provide an opportunity for “an in-depth evaluation of the current complex framework of the situation in Libya and to renew Italy’s support to the United Nation for the efforts focused on stabilising Libya”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website reports.

 Salamé told press after the meeting: “It would be absolutely unrealistic to ignore the seriousness of the challenge of irregular migration… I also believe each country has an absolute right to control its borders and that the best way of doing that is through cooperation with neighbouring countries.”  

 A talk on the work promoting peace and reconciliation in the Libyan situation has also been organised at the Comunità di Sant’Edigio in the Trastevere district of Rome in the late afternoon.

 Salamé was the Lebanese Minister of Culture from 2000 and 2003 and is the Dead of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and professor of International Relations at Sciences Po.

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