Day: January 30, 2023

Tripoli -The GNU-Ministry of Oil and Gas said that the agreement that was signed between the National Oil Corporation “NOC”, with Eni company violates the legislation stipulated in the Libyan Oil Law.

This came in a statement by the Ministry, yesterday, it revealed that the agreement, to develop two gas blocks in the marine area west of Tripoli was made by signing an amendment to the existing agreement concluded with the company in 2008 by changing the agreed shares of production partners and increasing the share of the foreign partner to 37% instead of the current 30%.

According to the Ministry, the agreement is completely contrary to the legal legislation stipulated in Oil Law No. (25) of 1955, NOC Establishment Law No. (24) of 1970, and Decision No. (10) of 1970, as this procedure requires prior approval from the Ministry, to raise the share of the foreign partner, in turn, refers it to the Council of Ministers for a decision, and this did not happen.

The Ministry called on the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NOC to follow up the legal mechanisms in this regard and to refer economic and technical justifications on the basis of which this amendment was made to the Ministry.

The ministry considered that making the NOC single out the decision to amend the agreements opens the way for other partners to make any amendment to what was previously agreed upon without going through the procedures and legislation stipulated in the Libyan law.

The ministry noted that it is committed to following the legal paths in all its transactions, as it is the legally responsible body before the legislative and oversight authorities, stressing its support and encouragement to invest in areas of oil and gas with international partners for the benefit of both parties.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Rabat- Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans living abroad, Nasser Bourita, said that “the only way out of the crisis in Libya is to organize elections,” stressing that without these elections, legitimacy cannot be achieved in Libya.

The Moroccan minister said, in a press conference held after his meeting today, Monday in Rabat, with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Libya, “Abdullah Batili,” that there are difficulties facing resolving the Libyan crisis, “but he did not disclose them.”

The visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Libya to Morocco, according to Moroccan government sources, comes within the framework of the ongoing dialogue between Rabat and the United Nations regarding following up the development of the situation in Libya.

Morocco hosted many meetings between the Libyan factions that resulted in agreements that were expected to pave the way for the approval of organizing elections in Libya.

In his press presentation, Bourita said, “Morocco is with Libya’s unity and national sovereignty, and with a solution within the framework of Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” noting that “Rabat is with a Libyan solution to the Libyan crisis, away from external interference.”

The Moroccan minister stressed that he is “for a peaceful solution without any tendency towards imposing military solutions,” highlighting that Morocco, within the framework of its support for the solution, is against all foreign interference and making Libya an arena for diplomatic tensions.

And he added, “This solution will only be achieved with international support through the role of the United Nations, as it is an umbrella that gives continuity to any solution in Libya,” considering that “Morocco separates two problems, the issue of legitimacy, which can only be resolved through elections in order to grant a political measure.” for Libya”, and then the second issue, which is “managing the transitional period, which must be in a consensual manner through institutions that attend the elections.

He stressed that “Morocco has always dealt with these institutions to manage the transitional period, whether with the government of national unity or the House of Representatives and the High Council of State.

For his part, Abdullah Batili, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Libya, said, “Morocco has expressed the same concerns as the Secretary-General regarding Libya,” stressing, “We must contribute to restoring security and stability in Libya.”

The UN envoy stressed that “the role of all countries neighboring Libya is to search for a solution to the crisis in favor of the Libyans who want stable and legitimate institutions, institutions that allow opening the way towards prosperity in the country.”

Batelli considered that “Libya enjoys enormous resources that allow it in the near future to create the appropriate conditions for prosperity,” noting that “the Libyans are working hard, at all levels, in order to reach a solution to the Libyan crisis.”

Source: Libyan News Agency

In a joint press conference with Sameh Shoukri in Cairo, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, the elections are the only solution to the crisis in Libya.

Source: Libyan News Agency