TRIPOLI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Italy on Tuesday officially reopened its embassy in Libya after two years of closure, the Italian ministry of foreign affairs announced.
"After two years, the Italian embassy will again become operational in Libya with an ambassador scheduled to present credentials to the local government," the ministry said.
The Italian embassy was closed in February 2015 amid the violence in Tripoli between rival militias, which eventually created political division and unrest.
"The reopening of the embassy in Tripoli is a very important sign of friendship with the Libyan people, and also a strong sign of confidence in the country's stabilization process," the ministry added.
Libya is a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants to cross the Mediterranean to European shores due to the state of insecurity and chaos.
