By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- Ever since Libya’s new interim government was sworn in, a number of EU nations scrambled to offer support in Libya’s bid to maintain peace and in the rebuilding process. Spain is the latest nation to get on board after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Tripoli on Thursday, expressing his support for Libya’s political process. In a news conference with interim Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, Sanchez commented: “This is a historic moment for Libya, a great opportunity, and Spain wants to be at its side.” The Spanish prime minister also said he wants to support Libya’s election process, announcing that Spain will “contribute to the Libyan ceasefire monitoring mechanism to guarantee security and the upholding of peace.” Both countries also announced the reopening of the Spanish embassy in Tripoli, closed since 2014.
The Spanish prime minister traveled with a business delegation and met Libyan officials to discuss what role Spain can play in Libya’s reconstruction and development. Spain’s major economic presence in Libya is the huge energy firm Repsol. Dbeibah said he wants to “encourage Spanish businesses operating in Libya, such as Repsol, to expand their activities beyond the hydrocarbons sector.” On Tuesday, company officials held a video conference with Mustafa Sanalla, head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) who said in a statement that they are discussing methods of “introducing renewable energy in the Libyan oil sector.” Dbeibah announced the “reactivation of a joint committee that has not met since 2008 to restart and update old (bilateral) agreements” The Libyan prime minister added: “Today we have signed memorandums of understanding in several fields including education, training and trade.”
