Libya Stabilization Initiative | Greece present in Libya once again

Defence Redefined

22/10/2021

Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, attended the Conference on Libya entitled “Libya Stabilization Initiative”, accompanied by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Costas Frangogiannis.

The conference was also attended by countries such as Egypt, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Qatar, China, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey as well as neighboring countries of Libya, such as Algeria, Malta, Niger, Sudan, Chad, and Tunisia. 

International and regional organizations, such as the Arab League, the African Union, the European Union, and the United Nations also participated. The meeting focused on two key areas: security and economy/growth.

Greece’s participation in this initiative, according to the Greek Foreign Minister, indicates the interest of Greece, one of Libya’s closest neighbors, in both the stability of Libya itself and the wider region.

In this context, Mr. Dendias stressed that Greece has taken a number of initiatives. Specifically, the country was one of the first to reopen the embassy in Tripoli and open a consulate general in Benghazi.

Also, the visits of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Tripoli and Benghazi respectively, as well as the two visits of the Deputy Foreign Minister, Costas Frangogiannis, to Tripoli and Benghazi, in which he was accompanied by operational missions, need to be noted. 

Further, the contacts in Athens made by the interim Libyan President, Mohamed Al Menfi, the Speaker of the Parliament, Aguila Saleh, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla El Mangoush, must be added.

In addition, Greece contributes to the reconstruction of Libya’s institutions, starting with the training of the Libyan Coast Guard, which has commenced as part of a wider European effort since 2015. Our country has also expressed its readiness to participate in the observation mechanism regarding the United Nations’ call for a ceasefire as well as in the demining process by providing the relevant equipment. To the above, humanitarian aid in the form of donating 200.000 vaccines is added.

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During his stay in Tripoli, as announced, the Minister of Foreign Affairs went to the municipality of Abu Sliem, the third-largest municipality of Libya, where vulnerable groups live (internally displaced, women and children) in order to visit the stadium in the area, which is being reconstructed with Greek funding in the framework of the implementation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees: “Sport for Peace” program.

In his speech at the Conference on Libya, the Foreign Minister stressed the need to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions (1970, 2570, and 2571) concerning, inter alia, the arms embargo.

Diplomatic sources point out that Mr. Dendias reiterated Greece’s firm position, which is shared by the vast majority of participants in the Conference, on the complete and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign troops, including foreign fighters and mercenaries.

He also stressed the importance of holding the elections on the predetermined date agreed in the context of the political dialogue, on December 24.

Finally, the Foreign Minister stressed that a Libyan solution to the Libyan challenges should be found, without the intervention of third parties, who are trying to impose their own decisions.

With information from: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, defenceredefined.com.cy

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