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Libyan officials meet with Kerry and Johnson to discuss economic crisis

November 1, 2016 at 11:15 am

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson (L) and United States Secretary of State, John Kerry (R) [İngiltere Dışişleri Bakanlığı/Anadolu Agency ]

Talks have taken place in London between Libyan Presidency Council chairman Faiez Serraj, US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Concluding today, the discussions are being held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall.

Instigated by Washington, the discussion focused on the state of Libya’s economy. A statement issued at the end of Monday’s initial session urged all of Libya’s financial players to work together.

Amongst those present at the meeting was Libyan Central Bank governor Saddek Elkaber with whom Serraj has failed to agree on economic policies. Also there were National Oil Corporation head Mustafa Sanallah, who has seen oil production surge since the Libyan National Army army’s takeover of the eastern oil terminals, and Ali Mohamed, appointed by Serraj as interim chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority.

Although there were reports that the President of the House of Representatives, Ageela Saleh, was travelling to Britain, he was not actually invited. He is subject to EU travel and financial sanctions which were imposed on him and Libya Dawn leaders Nuri Abu Sahmain and Khalifa Ghwell in March.

Libya’s political process remains at a standstill due to the House of Representatives refusal to vote on the Libyan Political Agreement; it has also twice rejected the Presidency Council-proposed cabinets for the Government of National Accord.