“Unfortunately, there is no indication of any close agreement on elections in Libya,” Borrell
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said he was not encouraged by the fact that “there is no indication of any possible agreement on elections any time soon in Libya.”“The European Union and its international partners can make a difference by proactively supporting mediation efforts, which is what we intend to do, and we must encourage the different Libyan actors on all sides to promote dialogue and reach consensus,” Borrell said in a speech during the European Parliament session. “The call for foreign forces to withdraw from Libya must be translated into action, and we must support the work of the UN envoy and Libyan stakeholders to build a new and joint road map towards elections,” he added.
Source:Libya Today
November 24, 2022 09:02 UTC
Athens-Tripoli row: Why is Greece so angry with Libya?
Instead, he decided to leave Tripoli and head for Benghazi, Eastern Libya. Libya's Foreign Ministry issued a statement "deploring" Mr. Dendias' behaviour which, it said, is counter to all diplomatic norms. He also met with General Khalifa Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army in eastern Libya, followed by another meeting with Speaker, Aguila Saleh. Favourably received in Eastern Libya, the Greek Foreign Minister found support from both the Parliament and Mr Haftar. In the meantime, Egypt, Cyprus and Greece have been working on the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum as early as 2018.
Source:Libya Today
November 24, 2022 09:00 UTC
Greece pleased after EU Parliament’s call to annul Turkey-Libya MoU
The European Parliament called for the cancellation of a controversial 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Libya, which has caused tensions in the Mediterranean ever since. The Turkish-Libyan deal ignores the island of Crete, and Greece says Turkey wants to set a legal precedent with an MoU that is “illegal” under international law. The European Commission and the EU Council have repeatedly condemned the Turkey-Libya MoU as “illegal” and the EU House took a step further calling for its annulment. Yet, the European Parliament wants a special EU envoy for Libya to be appointed as a matter of priority, as well as a roadmap for holding free and fair elections. Since 2011, the EU has invested some €700 million in Libya, for matters including development, aid and controversial security and coast guard project.
Source:Libya Today
November 24, 2022 05:10 UTC
UN expresses concern over deadly explosive remnants of war in Libya
– The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) on Wednesday expressed concern over deadly explosive remnants of war in Libya, urging Libyans to be aware of the danger. “UNICEF and UNMAS are deeply concerned by the continuing loss of civilian life, especially children, from explosive remnants of war, and urge all Libyans to be aware of the risks,” the statement said. “At least 39 people have been killed or injured this year in incidents involving explosive remnants of war,” said Justin Smith, head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Mine Action Programme. According to the Humanitarian Response Plan, 505,486 people are currently at risk from mines, unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war, the statement said. Libya has been suffering from insecurity and chaos since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.
Source:Libya Today
November 24, 2022 01:07 UTC
The Libyan Post-Oil Era: The Challenges and Opportunities of Energy Transition
Still, Libya’s oil production is declining despite efforts by the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to maintain production levels and prevent further decline. In addition, it became a norm to interrupt oil production to get the attention of the central government in Tripoli. Despite these challenges, Libya is well-positioned for an energy transition: it is one of very few oil producing countries that also have large reserves of natural gas and renewable energy resources. Rethinking the Oil Sector ReformThe NOC should aim to harness the opportunities provided by the national accord on the new leadership and international oil market developments to develop a concrete plan to reform the oil sector. Even with the government pledging to get to 10% renewable energy by 2025, many believe this is still not aggressive enough.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 23:27 UTC
BOT is the way forward for completion of Libya’s railway project
Abuzakouk stressed that Libya does not currently have the finances to complete its railway projects, let alone all the other projects it needs to complete. He gave the UAE’s Jabal Ali Free Port project as a good example of the BOT formula for a large infrastructure project. The BOT formula would enable Libya to benefit from advanced international knowhow and experience and gets round Libya’s lack of finances. Abuzakouk gave Morocco as the prime example of use of the BOT method. The BOT method is much better for the Libyan state than being stuck in a loan process with all its vagaries, he added.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 22:32 UTC
EU urges bickering states to set aside migration differences
European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas delivers his speech during a debate on asylum and migration including search and rescue Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022 in Strasbourg. EU interior ministers are holding emergency talks on Friday in an effort to find a permanent solution. “By giving the keys to our migration and asylum policy to countries like Libya, we are making ourselves complicit in violence, torture, rape and ransom. And it’s so-called coastguard are armed gangs in uniforms paid for by the European Union,” he said. But we need to manage migration, and we need to welcome people (by) legal ways.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 22:11 UTC
EU Parliament urges Libyan authorities to cancel maritime MoU signed with Turkey in 2019
The European Parliament urged Wednesday the Libyan authorities to cancel the 2019 Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea. The Parliament also called on the relevant parties not to implement any clause included in the subsequent agreement on hydrocarbons signed on 3 October this year, as it foresees illegal drilling activities in other countries’ exclusive economic zones, including those of Cyprus and Greece. The text was adopted by 454 votes in favour, 130 against with 54 abstentions.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 18:17 UTC
Ericsson to Build New UK Facility for 6G Research
Ericsson is set to build a new 6G research facility in the United Kingdom with tens of millions in investment over ten years’ time, the company announced on Wednesday. 📣 Ericsson has announced a multi-million-pound investment in #6G research for the UK. Find out more 👉 https://t.co/0vfZeuWfyY pic.twitter.com/EMbsLXwnCM — Ericsson (@ericsson) November 22, 2022Industry verticals and consumers will benefit from the programme, adding over 20 researchers. It will also back doctoral students working with key affiliates for future 6G research projects. Katherine Ainley, Chief Executive of Ericsson UK and Ireland, said that the networking giant had connected the UK for over 120 years.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 16:41 UTC
Afriqiyah staff strike in eastern region in solidarity with branch's head
Afriqiyah Airways employees in the eastern region have announced a strike starting from Tuesday over the dismissal of the director of the airline's HQ in the east. While welcoming the efforts to unify the public institutions, the protesters denounced the decision issued by the company's general administration to exempt the director and assign another from outside the company and the aviation sector, especially as the company is "experiencing difficult times," as they put it. The Administrative Control Authority had issued a letter demanding the suspension of the decision to assign the new director of the eastern branch, Zakaria Palmer", to replace the former director, Abdul Rahman Saleh.
Source:Libya Observer
November 23, 2022 11:09 UTC
Libya: The Turks Don’t Care
There is no united government of Libya so the GNU cannot pledge Libya to support the Turkish claims. Dbeibah obtained Turkish and now Russian assistance to gradually gain control over the Central Bank of Libya and the National Oil Corporation. Dbeibah insists he can only be removed by national elections yet Dbeibah is the biggest obstacle to national elections. Bashagha backed Turkish intervention in 2019 and 2020, but turned against the Turks when the Turks indicated they were not leaving Libya. Arabs don’t like or trust Turkey and the Turks don’t care.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 11:08 UTC
Ordeman, Koni discuss Libya’s southern region and elections
Charge d’Affaies in Libya Leslie Ordeman siad he met with Deputy Chair of the Libyan Presidential Council Mousa al-Koni in Tunis where they discussed stability, economy, and political participation for Libya’s southern region as well as elections. “I was very pleased to meet with Presidential Council Deputy Chair al-Koni in Tunis. We discussed the importance of promoting stability, economic opportunity, and political participation for Libya ’s southern region as well as the need to restore a viable electoral path,” U.S. Embassy in Libya quoted Ordeman.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 10:31 UTC
Eight Libya-bound human trafficking victims rescued in Jigawa
The Nigeria Immigration Service in Jigawa State has reportedly rescued eight Libya-bound victims of human trafficking. This was made known by the NIS Comptroller in the state, Ahmad Bagari, during a press briefing in the Dutse. He said the victims, consisting five males and three females, were rescued along the Kaya-Daurawa-Roni link road on Sunday. Bagari said the victims hailed from Abia, Edo, Imo and Ogun states, while the driver of the vehicle hailed from Achilafiya town, in the Yankwashi Local Government Area of the state. The Comptroller identified the victims as Nosa Isaac, 45, Emanuel Ogur, 37, Abdulwasiu Oladokun, 36, Blessing John, 28, Etiosa Henry, 24, Osagie Francis, 20, Faith Moses, 20, and Success Jacob, 19.
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 09:13 UTC
Libya launches a national cancer treatment program
– Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah on Tuesday launched a national program to organize the treatment of cancer patients, including the establishment of a new government agency and a database, and the tracing of patients in the country. The new agency will be responsible for developing and implementing the necessary policies, plans and programs to treat cancer, and the database will determine the needs and necessary medicines for cancer patients, according to a statement issued by the government information office. Dbeibah also approved the National Document for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer which entails an awareness and prevention campaign until February 2024, after which “the mandatory screening phase for all Libyan women over 35 years of age will begin,” it says the notice. Due to years of armed conflict and insecurity, the Libyan authorities have been struggling to provide adequate basic services, mainly health care and education, for the population. â– (Xinhua)
Source:Libya Today
November 23, 2022 02:42 UTC
Interior, justice ministries to launch project for developing juvenile justice
Libya's interior and justice ministries have agreed to launch a joint project for the development of juvenile justice, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) says. The UN organization disclosed that the project comes in the framework of a cooperation agreement between the UNDP, UNICEF, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to protect children's rights with the support of the European Union. According to the UNDP, the program's goal is to provide adequate access to all children in Libya before the law, including those deprived of their liberty.
Source:Libya Observer
November 22, 2022 18:00 UTC