The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush, announced the reactivation of previous agreements with Russia in the security and economic fields to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Al-Mangoush’s comments came during a joint press conference with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow, at the end of talks she held in Russia on Thursday .
The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed the government’s appreciation for Russia’s efforts and its role in the ceasefire, praising its role in supporting peace and its aspiration to expand this role.
She lso revealed that Russia will open its embassy in Tripoli and its consulate in Benghazi, as part of raising the level of its diplomatic representation in Libya.
During her speech, Al-Mangoush touched on the file of mercenaries and foreign forces, stressing that their withdrawal from Libya requires seeing the issue with a realistic eye, adding that their departure may take place in stages, and in a codified manner that ensures a balance on the ground.
She added: “We are open to dialogue with all countries to find common ground that guarantees a balanced exit of mercenaries.”
For his part, Lavrov said that he agreed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to expand diplomatic consultations and expand economic and educational cooperation, reiterating his support for the outcomes of the “5 + 5” Military Commission, and his emphasis on the need for all foreign military personnel to leave Libya.
The Russian Foreign Minister emphasized AAl-Mangoush’s talk about the necessity of a gradual and balanced exit of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya, noting that the authorities in Libya are on the way to setting up a mechanism for consultations to develop plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces, explaining that Moscow is ready to actively join these efforts.
