UAE adheres to ceasefire in Libya, calls for restoration of oil production

CAIRO - 13 July 2020: UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash said Monday that his country, in cooperation with its allies, is calling for a return to oil production in Libya as soon as possible.

 

Gargash added in a tweet on his official account, "The UAE stresses the importance of guarantees to prevent oil revenues from prolonging and exacerbating the conflict…We will continue political and diplomatic work to resolve the crisis,prioritize the ceasefire and return to the political process."

 

On July 10, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) has lifted force majeure on all oil exports from Libya but the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by KhalifaHaftar has said it would shut down oil production and exports until the demandsof the Libyan people are met.

 

For his part, spokesman for the Libyan National Army (LNA) Major General Ahmed al-Mismari confirmed that the blockade on the country’s oil fields and ports will continue until the needs of the Libyan people are met.

 

He added that Haftar allowed loading an oil tanker on July 10  after six months without exports, noting that this came at the request of the internationalcommunity.

 

Mismari pointed out that the Libyan tribes stressedthat the oil revenues should be deposited at a foreign bank account to ensure their fair distribution amongst Libya’s three regions under the auspices of the United Nations, highlightingthe importance of avoiding allocatingthese funds for weapons, war, or militias.

 

He also urged reviewing the accounts of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli to find out how oil revenues were spent during the past years, and to hold those who have squandered the revenuesaccountable.

 

Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It now has two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country.

 

The country’s internationally recognized government is based in Tripoli, while KhalifaHaftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supported by a parallel administration based in the east.