FM Shoukry meets with US national security adviser, John Bolton
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry meets with US National Security Adviser John Bolton - Press photoCAIRO – 7 August 2018: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met on Tuesday with US National Security Adviser John Bolton at their first ever meeting since the US official assumed his post.Shoukry, currently visiting the US, said he is looking forward to working with Bolton to boost Cairo-Washington relations in a way that reflects how special and strategic they are, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement.He underscored the importance of continuing efforts that aims to achieve mutual interests of the two countries.Shoukry also presented a comprehensive review about the developments of conditions in Egypt, asserting the importance of the US support to Cairo in light of the current challenges besetting the Arab region.The Egyptian top diplomat also called for holding the upcoming round of strategic dialogue and the 2+2 dialogue meetings between the two countries' ministers of foreign affairs and defense with the aim of discussing means to foster bilateral ties and exchanging views about regional and international issues of mutual concern.As for the US aid program to Egypt, Shoukry said it reflects the importance of Cairo-Washington historic relations, achieves mutual interests, enhances Egypt's capability of combating security challenges and maintains peace and security in the region.Meanwhile, Bolton said the US administration wants to keep the strategic nature of relations with Cairo and believes that Egypt is playing a pivotal role in maintaining stability and balance in the Middle East.The US official was briefed by Shoukry on Egypt's anti-terrorism efforts, particularly with regard to the success achieved by the Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018.He was also keen to know Egypt's vision and assessment of the conditions and developments in the Middle East, especially in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Palestine.In this regard, the two sides discussed ways to overcome the deadlock reached in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.Shoukry met as well with heads of several US companies investing or willing to invest in Egypt, topped by ExxonMobil, Honeywell and Cargill.During a business lunch organized by the US Chamber of Commerce, Shoukry reviewed Egypt's economic reform program and efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to improve the economic sector and attract more investments into the country, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said.They also discussed means of increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries in a manner that serves the interests of the Egyptian and American peoples.The strategic partnership between Egypt and the US requires that both countries strengthen mutual cooperation in all fields, not only in the oil sector, Shoukry noted.The top Egyptian diplomat briefed the US investors on how the new investment law paves the way for businessmen to invest in Egypt.The Egyptian government gives priority to the health and educational sectors, making it necessary to improve skills and capabilities of Egypt's manpower, he pointed out.Shoukry further called on the US investors to do business in the SCZone and make use of the incentives offered by the Egyptian government there, noting that the Suez Canal Axis project will turn Egypt into a regional and international commercial hub.The US businessmen, meanwhile, praised the mega projects established in Egypt over the past period.
Source:Libya Today
August 07, 2018 21:00 UTC
News Recap - Tue, August 07, 2018
Here is a recap of Tuesday’s news headlines from The Libya ObserverExchange Rates http://lyo.ly/5acHigh Council of State discusses activating joint committees with HoR http://lyo.ly/8ndLibya’s Al-Sirir power plant’s gas turbine No.2 nonoperational for maintenance http://lyo.ly/8neUNPD country director in Libya hails Solh Kahir media campaign http://lyo.ly/8nfLibya’s Interior Ministry wants all foreigners registered as per the law http://lyo.ly/8ng9438 Nigerian migrants repatriated from Libya so far in 2018 http://lyo.ly/8nlEducation Ministry: Preparatory School Certificate success reached 54.24% http://lyo.ly/8nmInterior Ministry discusses building migrants’ cemetery http://lyo.ly/8nnPhilippine President sends ministerial delegation to Libya to look into hostages crisis http://lyo.ly/8nqItalian Parliament pass resolution to grant Libyan Coast Guard 12 vessels http://lyo.ly/8nt
Source:Libya Observer
August 07, 2018 20:48 UTC
Italian Parliament pass resolution to grant Libyan Coast Guard 12 vessels
The Italian parliament approved after a heated session held on Monday to a resolution to provide the Libyan Coast Guard with 12 boats to help combat illegal immigration. The meeting witnessed lively debates between pro-government MPs and opposition parties before adopting the resolution by a majority vote of 382 to 11, with the abstention of the main opposition party "Democratic Party" after its members made efforts to block the adoption of the resolution. The Italian government said that this step falls within the assistance of the Italian Government to Libya in terms of managing the migration issue, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries. The opposition parties insisted that the omission of the particular aspect to bind Libya to respect human rights has not been pledged in this deal. The opposition Italian Democratic Party put three conditions to vote in favour of the government decree, including the presence of United Nations entities on Libyan Coast Guard vessels and in refugee camps in Libya, in addition to the Libyan government's ratification of the Geneva Convention.
Source:Libya Observer
August 07, 2018 19:52 UTC
Philippine President sends ministerial delegation to Libya to look into hostages crisis
The Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that he will send a delegation of ministers, instead of a frigate, to Libya to deal with the crisis of the three Filipinos kidnapped, Spokesman of the Philippine Government said on Tuesday. After the confirmation made by the Philippines and South Koreans of the kidnapping of four of their nationals in Libya last week, the Philippine President announced last Friday that he was considering sending a frigate to ensure their release. The Spokesman of the Philippine President, Harry Roque, clarified in a press conference at the Malacanang Palace that the Philippine President reversed his decision to send a frigate after consultation with his government and ministers. Earlier, South Korea decided to redirect a ship from the Gulf of Aden to Libyan waters in a bid to recue its national. Later, the Philippine president decided to do the same saying “if the three Filipinos were harmed, I will send a frigate to trace the kidnappers and blow them up”.
Source:Libya Observer
August 07, 2018 18:58 UTC
Former CEO of Libyan mail and telecommunication company travel-banned
The Head of the Investigation Bureau of the Attorney General’s office in Tripoli, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, instructed the Head of the Passports and Citizenship Authority to place the former CEO of the Libyan Mail and Telecommunication Holding Company Adel Rajab Markous on the travel ban list. Al-Sour said Markous should be listed on banned departures and arrivals’ lists, ordering his immediate arrest. Markous was the CEO of the company at the Salvation Government before the Presidential Council had ordered the reshuffle of the board of directors of the company.
Source:Libya Observer
August 05, 2018 09:45 UTC
Libya invites Jordanian businesspersons to partake in rebuilding projects
Libyan delegation from the industry, commerce and agriculture chambers invited last week Jordanian businesspersons to visit Libya and help Libyan counterparts in rebuilding efforts. The invitation came as the Libyan delegation attended the 12th version of the International Exhibition for Construction held in Jordan from July 30 to August 02. The Libyan delegation also attended a follow-up engineering conference, not to mention meeting Jordan’s Labor Minister and Libyan ambassador to Jordan, among other officials.
Source:Libya Observer
August 05, 2018 09:45 UTC
Tripoli Port resumes sea traffic
Work has resumed in Tripoli Port after the arrival of the ship "GRANDE SICILA" on Wednesday, coming from Belgium, carrying 1457 vehicles on board. The ship was received by the Minister of Interior, Brigadier Abdul Salam Ashour, Finance Minister, Osama Hammad, and head of the Customs Department, Brigadier Tariq al-Faqih, in addition to a number of port officials. The head of the port management committee Salem Badir said that the ship "GRANDE" is the first to dock at the port since 2012, noting that it began unloading its cargo after it was granted permission to leave within 24 hours. Badir pointed out that the port in Tripoli will start receiving cargo ships on a daily basis despite its limited possibilities, due to the lack of maintenance of platforms and other facilities.
Source:Libya Observer
August 03, 2018 13:07 UTC
Libya's Al-Sirraj wants Britain to help partially remove UN arms embargo
The Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sirraj has urged the UK to help the diplomatic efforts at the United Nations Security Council that aim at securing a partial removal of the arms embargo in order to assist the Libyan coastguards, oil facilities guards, border guards, anti-terror force, and presidential guards. The plea came by Al-Sirraj in meeting with the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Penelope Mordaunt, who arrived Thursday in Tripoli, according to the media office of Al-Sirraj. Al-Sirraj welcomed cooperation with UK in all fields including immigration, which he said must be resolved in source countries, stressing that Libya won't have migrants' centers on its soil. "UK firms are ready to come to Libya and help in health, education, human resources and development sectors." The meeting was attended by a delegation accompanying Mordaunt, British ambassador to Libya Frank Baker and Libyan officials including the foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 20:37 UTC
South Korea deploys warship off Libya's coast after abduction of a national
South Korea said Thursday it had deployed a warship to Libya in an apparent show of force to secure the release of a national kidnapped along with three Filipinos in the south-western region. The vessel, Munmu the Great, which takes part in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, was on its way to Libya, Seoul officials said Wednesday. The warship is also preparing for all possibilities including the need for military support, a South Korean defense ministry spokesman said. "On the first day he was abducted, the president ordered the government to do its utmost with all resources the country has," The South Korean President's spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. A video footage showed the South Korean captive asking the President to help win his release, and so did the three other abducted persons who are from The Philippines.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 19:52 UTC
News Recap - Thur, August 02, 2018
Here is a recap of Thursday’s news headlines from The Libya ObserverExchange Rates http://lyo.ly/5acReleased video show kidnapped foreign workers urge their release http://lyo.ly/8kaBenina International Airport resumes air traffic after Ground-handling Service ends strike http://lyo.ly/8kbArmed group attacks Criminal Investigation Department in Sorman http://lyo.ly/8kdLibya's Coast Guard rescues 574 migrants in three separate operations http://lyo.ly/8kePower plant in Western Mountain reactivated by Italian company http://lyo.ly/8kgJournalist found handcuffed and dead in Sabha http://lyo.ly/8kfMinister of Economy: Shipment of flour to arrive soon to Libyan ports http://lyo.ly/8khArab and International Criminal Police Department resumes work after settling outstanding contributions to Interpol http://lyo.ly/8kiCBL: Mechanism of importing livestock for Eid Al-Adha is inappropriate time-wise http://lyo.ly/8koSouth Korea deploys warship off Libya's coast after abduction of a national http://lyo.ly/8ktLibya's Al-Sirraj wants Britain to help partially remove UN arms embargo http://lyo.ly/8ku
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 19:30 UTC
CBL: Mechanism of importing livestock for Eid Al-Adha is inappropriate time-wise
The governor of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) Al-Siddiq Al-Kabeer said in a letter to the Head of the Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sirraj, on Thursday that the mechanism of opening letters of credit for importing livestock for Eid Al-Adha this year is inappropriate as very short time is left. Al-Kabeer said that the letters cannot be granted the implemented in the time span left before Eid Al-Adha, adding that this casts doubt on whether the livestock would come on time or not. “The aim for which such a foreign currency amount was allocated would not be materialized in the 22 days left for Eid Al-Adha, even if they were done by documentary letters of credit.” Al-Kabeer explained. Al-Sirraj issued an order to import cattle for Eid Al-Adha in the last few days through opening new letters of credit in foreign currencies. Livestock (Eid Al-Adha sacrifice) prices have jumped high this year reaching over 1000 Libyan dinars per sheep amid lack of cash at the banks, not to mention smuggling of the cattle to neighboring countries using the difference in currency exchange rates.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 17:15 UTC
Minister of Economy: Shipment of flour to arrive soon to Libyan ports
The Minister of Economy of the Presidential Council Nasser Al-Dersi affirmed that the shipments of flour and wheat will arrive in the Libyan ports within a few days, promising that they will end the crisis of flour shortage and high prices of bread. In a news conference on Tuesday, Al-Dersi said that the government had allocated 100 million Libyan dinars to companies and public factories for wheat supply and flour industry, indicating that 30 million dinars will be allocated for public companies and factories, while 50 million dinars will go to the private sector, in addition to 20 million dinars of bread-making supplies. Al-Dersi added that the ministry had set up an accurate mechanism for the allocation of private sectors, so it will ensure equitable distribution to all areas of Libya without exception, and according to population distribution, noting that the ministry required a recommendation from the economic control in municipalities, the Bakery Syndicate, the Federation of Factories for Wheat Mills and flour companies before approval. The Minister clarified that the companies that obtained permission to supply amounted to 3 companies in the eastern region, 5 companies in the west, and 2 companies in the central region, in addition to one factory in the south.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 12:33 UTC
Arab and International Criminal Police Department resumes work after settling outstanding contributions to Interpol
The Libyan Interior Ministry said that the Arab and International Criminal Police Department has resumed work normally after lifting the ban imposed on it by paying all of the outstanding contributions to the Interpol. The ministry added that it had coordinated with the Interpol to include Libya in the countries that benefit from the project "ione", which supports the African States. A meeting with Interpol was also arranged to study Libya's accession to a project run by the Interpol to combat human trafficking. The ministry confirmed that the Arab and International Criminal Police Department has started linking the Interpol database to the weapons system "iarms" for tracking lost and stolen arms. Measures were also taken to join the "Trigger" process organized and supervised by the Interpol to reduce terrorist movements, human trafficking, and proliferation of weapons.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 12:33 UTC
Power plant in Western Mountain reactivated by Italian company
The Italian Embassy said that the power plant in the Western Mountain has been reactivated through the technicians and experts of the Italian power engineering company Ansaldo Energia. "Our government proves once again its stand on the side of the Libyan citizen by deeds, to ease his daily suffering," the Italian Embassy tweeted, stressing that Italy is working to provide all essential requirements to the municipalities and to support the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) to address the current deficit of the power network in Libya.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 12:32 UTC
Journalist found handcuffed and dead in Sabha
The journalist and photographer of Fasanea, a Sabha-based newspaper, Musa Abdul Kareem was killed in mysterious circumstances after his body was found dumped on the side of the road in Al-Thanawia neighbourhood in Sabha on TuesdayOn its Facebook page, the newspaper mourned the journalist's death without giving further details about the incident. Initial reports said that the victim was found with signs of torture and 13 gunshots on his body. Investigations are underway to uncover the circumstances of the incident, especially since no group claimed responsibility for the crime. A relative of Abdul Kareem said that contacts were lost with the victim, shortly after he left his home at 9 am on Tuesday, to find him shot dead and handcuffed at 12 noon in the neighbourhood of Al-Thanawia, near Sabha Health Centre, with traces of torture and burns.
Source:Libya Observer
August 02, 2018 12:22 UTC