The US, the UK, France, and Italy have welcomed the announcement that Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) will be resuming oil exports and output, calling for fair distribution of resources and an adoption of transparency in state institutions.
“We commend the legitimate National Oil Corporation as it repairs infrastructure, honors its contractual obligations, and, having lifted the state of emergency provisions in eastern Libya, restores oil exports and production critical to Libya’s prosperity.” The statement reads.
It added that Libya’s oil facilities, production, and revenues belong to the Libyan people, reiterating that the National Oil Corporation must be allowed to work on behalf of all Libyans and that Libya’s oil resources must remain under the exclusive control of the legitimate National Oil Corporation and the sole oversight of the “Government of National Accord” as outlined in UN Security Council Resolutions 2259 (2015), 2278 (2016), and 2362 (2017).
“We welcome the proposal of the President of the Presidency Council to move forward with enhanced transparency of Libyan economic institutions. More broadly, we call on Libya’s leaders to seize this important opportunity, within the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement, to resolve differences over the Central Bank of Libya, enhance dialogue on the distribution of resources through the national budget, and work toward the unification of the Central Bank of Libya and the dissolution of parallel institutions, as agreed in the May 29 joint statement in Paris.” The statement adds.
It also said that now is the time for all Libyan players to move forward with a Libyan-owned discussion about how to improve fiscal transparency, strengthen economic institutions, and ensure just distribution of the country’s resources, within the framework of the Plan of Action formulated by UN Special Representative Ghassan Salame and on the basis of the Libyan Political Agreement, endorsed by the UN Security Council through resolution 2259 (2015).
The four countries also said they stand in solidarity with Libya’s leaders as they work toward an inclusive Libyan owned political process that will lead to credible, peaceful and well-prepared national elections as soon as possible.
“We will use all tools at our disposal to hold accountable those who undermine Libya’s peace, security, and stability.” The statement further adds.
