As part of the working visit of Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Najla Mangoush, to Tunisia, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar chaired, Wednesday, an extended working session with his Libyan counterpart. The session was attended, from the Tunisian side, notably by Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, Neila Nouira Gongi, and from the Libyan side, Minister of Transport Mohamed Chahoubi, as well as members of the two countries’ delegations, says a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the various aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries and recent developments, in particular the exchange of high-level visits, the convening of a number of sectoral and technical committees and the restoration of the pattern of economic flows between the two countries. The two parties also reviewed the measures taken to implement the results of the Libyan Prime Minister’s visit to Tunisia on November 30 and December 1, 2022, and his talks with the Prime Minister, particularly with regard to the facilitation of the flow of commercial goods and the circulation of travellers in both directions through the opening of new crossings at the border post of Ras Jedir, and the opening of a new maritime line between the port of Zarzis and the port of Tripoli, as well as operating flights linking Tunisian and Libyan airports. The meeting also focused on the prospects of Tunisian-Libyan cooperation in the field of achieving energy security in both countries and encouraging joint investments, through the intensification of the exchange of delegations of business leaders and investors in both countries between Tunisian and Libyan institutions. Both parties reiterated their willingness to sign the minutes of a joint agreement on the debt relief mechanism for Tunisian public and private sector institutions and agreed to accelerate the implementation of its provisions. The two sides also stressed the importance of further activating bilateral cooperation mechanisms by inviting the joint sectoral and technical committees to meet as soon as possible, pending the convening of the Ministerial Preparatory Committee, in order to pave the way for the organisation of the meetings of the High Joint Committee headed by the Prime Ministers of both countries. The working session was an opportunity for the Minister to affirm Tunisia’s support for Libya and its support for all efforts to achieve the political path in this brotherly country under Libyan leadership and under the auspices of the United Nations. For her part, the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation praised the Tunisian position in favour of Libya, Tunisia’s support in all regional and international authorities and its effective contribution to the success of the Libyan political path. The meeting also focused on current regional and international developments, in addition to the importance of intensifying coordination and consultation between Tunisia and Libya, in order to develop common approaches to address their repercussions on the two countries in the framework of solidarity and synergy.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse