The European Union should not "interfere" in Libya, despite the violent crackdown of anti-government protests by the regime of Moamer Gaddafi, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Monday, DPA reported.
"We should not give the wrong impression of wanting to interfere, of wanting to export our democracy. We have to help, we have to support the peaceful reconciliation: this is the way," Frattini said before meeting his EU counterparts in Brussels.
Among EU countries, Italy has the closest links with Libya, with significant energy investments in the country and cooperation agreements in force to curb migration.
Frattini said he backed a "national reconciliation leading to a constitution," as proposed on Sunday by Gaddafi's son, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi.
The Italian minister also said he was "extremely concerned" by reports of the proclamation of an Islamic Emirate in Benghazi, the epicentre of violent anti-government protests.
"Would you imagine having an Islamic Emirate on the borders of Europe? This would be a really serious threat," Frattini said.