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By Saber Ayyub.
Tripoli, 18 April 2016:
The UK is to give the Presidency Council £10 million ($14.3 million) for the work of the . . .[restrict]Government of National Accord. The offer was made by British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond who flew into in Tripoli today for talks with the head of the Presidency Council, prime minster-designate Faiez Serraj. They met at the Bu Setta naval base which Presidency is using as its temporary headquarters.
According to the British Foreign Office, the talks covered GNA priorities on security, rebuilding the economy and the restoration of public services as well as plans to deal with the so-called Islamic State and people trafficking.
“Britain and its allies fully support Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and his government as they restore peace and stability to the whole of Libya. We stand ready to provide further assistance to Libya and its people,” Hammond said afterwards.
Of the £10 million, £1.5million ($2.1 million) is for tackling illegal migration, smuggling and organised crime, and £1.8 million ($2.6 million) is to support counter-terrorism activities.
Last week, in a similar offer German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised €3 million ($3.4 million) in emergency aid plus a further €10 million ($11.1 million) for the Libya Stabilisation Fund.
Hammond’s flying visit came ahead of tonight’s meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers in Luxembourg at which they will decide on whether to take joint action to help restore security in Libya. They will also talk with Serraj via video linkup.
Hammond had been asked to accompany the French and German foreign ministers when they made a flying visit to Tripoli on Saturday for talks with Serraj, but had had a previous commitment.
He was accompanied today by the British ambassador to Libya, Peter Millett, who was in Tripoli for a separate flying visit on Thursday with his Spanish and French counterparts. Also with Hammond and the ambassador was Christian Turner the Foreign Office’s new Director General for the Middle East and Africa. [/restrict]
