More details emerged of the three MoU’s signed yesterday in Tripoli during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melloni and several of her government ministers, received by Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba.
1-An MoU in the field of health
i-Establishing Libyan-Italian hospitals in the cities of Tripoli, Benghazi and Sebha
ii-Establishing pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Libya
iii-Dispatching Libyan medical and paramedical personnel to Italy to develop their skills
iv-Forming a joint committee to follow up on the implementation of the terms of the agreement
2-An MoU in the field of youth and sports
i-Benefiting from Italian expertise in training national sports cadres
ii-Seeking Italian companies to build 3 stadiums in Libya
3-An agreement in the field of higher education and scientific research
i-Cooperation with Italian research centres in the field of agriculture
ii-Implementing joint programmes between Libyan and Italian universities
iii-Increasing the number of student seats on scholarships
iv-Sending Italian language graduates to study in Italy
Comment: An MoU is just an MoU
It must be kept in mind that these are simply MoUs, an expression of intend by two or more parties to do something. They are not binding contracts and do not commit either side to anything.
Contracts to build sports stadia, hospitals and medicines factories, for example, need money. The Aldabaiba government is struggling to find enough cash to cover its existing commitments, let alone any new ones.
For example, the Tripoli government is struggling to restart its agreement with IVECO for its state Truck and Bus Company (TBO) - which owes debts to Italy.
The Tripoli government is also struggling to finance the Tripoli International Airport project which is slowing down its implementation.
So, MoU’s are great political expressions – but they must be understood for what they are.