Italy says it is high time to lift anti-Libya embargo

Italy said it is high time to make efforts to obtain the lifting of the embargo implemented against Libya in 1992.

Italian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Rino Serri made the statement in a joint press conference held Tuesday in the Italian capital by Libya's new ambassador, Abdulati Al Obaidi, and Italian the minister in charge of relations with parliament, Gian Guido Folloni.

The Italian official said the mediation undertaken by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa is presently at a stage where it would be easier to move forward than to go backward. He also expressed Italy's commitment to bringing its contribution to settle the "Lockerbie affair" and open for Libya "a new path" to enable it to "actively participate in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership."

Libya is facing an international arms, air and economic embargo for its alleged involvement in the downing of a Pan-Am plane.

Last November 3, the UN Security Council extended by four months the air, military and economic embargo against the north African country. The security council wants Libya to hand over two Libyan men to London or Washington on charges of masterminding the explosion of the passenger plane in 1988 over the Scottish village of Lockerbie.