Italy calls Turkey a fundamental partner

Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on Friday, and called Turkey a "fundamental partner" for Italy.

Di Maio extensively talked about situation in Libya and need to work for an end to conflict through a political solution.

He called for a "sustainable ceasefire and t a simple freezing of conflict which would le to division of country."

Italy and Turkey support U.N.-backed government that is based in Tripoli against rival forces under command of Khalifa Hifter, who is supported by France, Russia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and or key Arab countries.

At same time as calling for negotiated peace, two countries are slamming European Union’s naval operation in Mediterranean that tries to enforce a U.N. arms embargo on conflict-torn country.

Di Maio also said it was urgent to appoint a new UN Secretary General Special Representative for Libya "in order to support political process", stressing underlying importance of Irini mission for Italy.

current acting UN envoy to Libya, Stephanie Williams, took on post after her predecessor Ghassan Salame resigned earlier this year.