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By Sami Zaptia.
London, 4 June 2021:
Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba held talks with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Tripoli yesterday. Sanchez was accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a group of businessmen and managers of some major Spanish companies.
The two discussed bilateral relations and ways of developing them to serve the common interests of the two friendly countries.
Welcomed the return of diplomatic relations
After the talks ended, Aldabaiba held a press conference with his Spanish counterpart in which he welcomed the return of diplomatic relations between Libya and Spain after years of absence of high-level diplomatic representation from Libya, noting that this matter sends many messages that Libya is witnessing a new stage towards stability and recovery after years. of wars and destruction.
Welcomed reopening of Spanish Embassy in Tripoli
Aldabaiba welcomed the reopening of the Spanish Embassy in Tripoli, considering that this step is an indication of Spain’s seriousness in raising the level of relations between the two friendly countries and strengthening its diplomatic presence in Libya.
Flights and visas
The Libyan Prime Minister looked forward to taking more of these positive steps, by resuming air traffic between Libyan and Spanish airports, and facilitating the granting of visas to Libyans, especially students studying in Spain in various fields.
Aldabaiba valued all the efforts made by the European Union and Spain in strengthening Mediterranean security, securing borders, advancing stability, and supporting Libya’s democratic transformation by reaching a constitution and free, transparent and fair elections.
He stressed that Libya’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity, in all parts of the country, east, west and south, is the basis for bilateral cooperation and strategic relations with Libya.
Reactivating the Libyan-Spanish Joint Committee
During the talks, it was agreed to reactivate the Libyan-Spanish Joint Committee, which has not convened since 2008, to re-evaluate all previous concluded agreements and determine what is feasible from them.
Several MoUs signed
Several memoranda of understanding were also signed between the two sides in several fields that contribute to supporting the economy, development, trade exchange and bilateral investment.
Treating Libyan cancer children in Spanish hospitals.
The Prime Minister thanked the Spanish government for agreeing to treat a number of children with cancer in Spanish hospitals.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister renewed Libya’s aspiration to build strategic relations with all friendly countries, hoping that the relationship with Spain would be a positive example of what the relationship between friends should look like, and what can be achieved of mutual benefit.
Pedro Sanchez
For his part, the Spanish Prime Minister stressed the depth of relations and ties between Spain and Libya and the two countries’ desire to consolidate these relations and expand them to include other areas.
He stressed his country’s support for Libya in these moments and its support for the wheel of stability and reconciliation.
The Spanish Embassy starts issuing Schengen visas
Sanchez announced that today, during this visit, he reopened his country’s embassy in Tripoli and started the consulate in providing its services by granting Schengen visas to citizens to contribute to increasing cooperation and strengthening relations between the two countries.
Great interest of Spanish companies in Libya
He pointed to the several business leaders accompanying him on the visit, which reflects the great interest of Spanish companies to work in Libya, in the fields of health, reconstruction, infrastructure, renewable energy, agricultural and animal wealth, as well as the fields of oil and gas.
At the end of his speech, Sanchez hoped that his visit to Libya would represent a positive turning point that would allow more joint action at this important historical stage.
