By Maria Antonietta Calabrò
The Libyan general’s spokesman: “We will prevent the entry of foreign ships.” But for our intelligence the real goal is Sarraj.
What is certain is that it was not a misunderstanding.
After Tobruk’s strong man’s decision first appeared on a blog, he was resumed by the Panaraba Broadcaster Al Arabiya (traveling around the world), an interview with Libyan general Kalifa Haftar published this morning by Corriere della Sera In which he himself stated that he would never allow entry into the Libyan waters of the ships of the Italian mission, had removed any doubt about the attribution.
Then came this afternoon the statements of the general’s spokesman to an international press agency that clearly confirmed his position.
No misunderstanding, then.
Yet the unofficial Italian position on today’s day has remained the same as last night, following the launch of Al Arabiya: no increase in vessel security measures, no specific alarm from the intelligence world.
The chronology of declarations has been studied, as if it were in the face of the “wireless phone” effect, that is, of a subsequent amplification of the case.
But above all, one wondered who General Haftar was talking about. That is, whether it is talking to Italy or the Libyans, and in particular to their own. The answer that has been given to the government is the second: Haftar is sending messages to his and his tribes. Not to our country.
Messages for his people. As happened on other occasions, starting in 2011, and by giving up the dichotomy that opposed it to Libyan President Serraj, who is the main interlocutor of the Italian government, as the Libyan representative recognized by the UN.
Although Haftar remembers in these hours another interview with the courier where the general maintained that one of his best interlocutors is an officer of our secret services.
That interview took place on the eve of the first (many) missions in Libya by Interior Minister Marco Minniti to try to resolve the crisis of migrants, and Viminale was not considered as very friendly towards that initial attempt that in the ‘ A few months ago, it has taken as little to buffer the emergency as shown in landing data for the first seven months of the year.
Now Tobruk’s new position (together with Serraj in France by President Macron), France Presse’s agency comes as the first results have been achieved, Italy has taken a strong initiative on migrants and Even though it has been difficult to obtain some European solidarity.
And it falls on the same days when – according to Le Figaro – “Paris and Berlin show off their co-operation on the Sahel”, after a joint visit this week of the two German and French Defense Ministers in Africa where in early July a Joint force of five sub-Saharan countries.
The situation highlighted by Haftar’s standpoints, despite the unofficial government reassurances, is seen as “very worrying” by the opposition of the Five Star Movement.
Angelo Tofalo, a member of Copasir, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Control of Intelligence, said: “As far as General Walcott’s threats are learned in recent hours, he is confirmed in an interview this morning on Corriere della Sera.
The delicate moment we are in dealing with France. A responsible government instead of hastening to not confirming the truthfulness of news that is now certain should act for the security of the military involved in this mischievous mission and for the Italians all. ”
And he went on to say: “As Parliament after asking for the Copasir and verifying the truth of the letter to Sarraj, we ask that the AIS director should be audited urgently to understand what is really going on.
National security does not pause as jobs Parliamentarians, it is a priority topic and we are here to follow the evolution of Libyan events minute by minute. ”
Today, the tenth anniversary of the Intelligence Reform Act, President of the Council, Paolo Gentiloni, has sent a message to the entire intelligence sector in which it exalts the efficiency, legality and transparency of secret services “that have earned a capital Of unprecedented confidence in public opinion. “
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Maria Antonietta Calabrò – A professional journalist, for thirty years at Corriere della Sera, a correspondence office in Rome.
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