The US ambassador to Libya Richard Norland affirmed his support for the right of citizens in all parts of the country to participate in peaceful protests.
Norland also urged the Libyan leaders to work together to meet the urgent needs of the people and seize this opportunity for the country.
Norland expressed, during a phone conversation with Libyan political officials, the United States’ concern about the acute shortage of electricity, especially in light of the increasing spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The US embassy said in a statement that Norland informed the Head of the Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sarraj, on Sunday, that the statements of the Government of National Accord and the Speaker of Parliament, Aqila Saleh, represent a very positive development.
The statement indicated that Norland and Al-Sarraj agreed “that the 5+5 committee hosted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) should immediately focus on modalities for a ceasefire and how to reach an effective demilitarized solution in Libya that would start the process of de-escalation and the exit of all foreign forces as well as the mercenaries from Libya”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Accord, Mohamed Taher Sayala, during the call with Norland, welcomed the positive reactions from many foreign countries regarding the statements issued on Friday, and agreed with the ambassador on the importance of supporting the UN-led negotiation process.
In another call with the Head of the National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Sanalla, the US ambassador confirmed his country’s support for arrangements that would allow for the immediate resumption of oil production with a transparent mechanism to ensure that revenues remain frozen pending negotiations between the Libyan parties regarding the future distribution of resources.
