The Head of the Presidential Council Mohammed Menfi met Wednesday in Tripoli with the US Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, and explained his vision for addressing the current political impasse, stressing his keenness to advance the political process in partnership with the United Nations.
Norland and an American delegation, which included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North African Affairs Joshua Harris and Chargé d'Affairs at the US Embassy in Libya, Jeremy Brendt discussed a number of political, economic and security files, in addition to the human rights file, ways to jointly rebuild the city of Derna in cooperation with international institutions, including the World Bank, and the file of securing borders and combating terrorism.
Norland stressed during the meeting Washington's continued support for the High Financial Committee formed by the Presidential Council, and appreciated Menfi's role and tireless work to build bridges of communication with all actors and those concerned with the Libyan issue.
Menfi, meanwhile, stressed his keenness to advance the political process and address the blockage, indicating that this process is possible through continuing talks with the Libyan parties, in reference to support for the UN efforts to bring the active parties to dialogue. He expressed to Norland his appreciation for the role of the US in supporting the work of the High Financial Committee and their steps in partnership with the UN mission to reach a real political settlement based on appealing to the people directly.
The American delegation, headed by Norland, began a working visit to Libya, starting in the city of Benghazi on Tuesday, where they met with both Khalifa Haftar and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aqila Saleh, in order to mobilize support for the political process led by the UN.
Norland arrived in Tripoli early on Wednesday, when he met with the NOC Chairman, the Head of the Egyptian Diplomatic Mission in Tripoli, Ambassador Tamer Mustafa, and the UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily at the UN mission’s headquarters.