Tripoli, 10 September, 2013:
Libya’s four most prominent western allies – the US, UK, France and Italy – have expressed their concern about the oil blockades and the consequences for the country.
In a joint statement issued today, they called on Libyans to put national interests first, avoid divisions and stand behind the beleaguered government of Ali Zeidan in its efforts to resolve to oil crisis peacefully. They themselves fully supported its attempts to do so, “peacefully and as quickly as possible”.
Refering to Libya’s democratic transition as “challenging”, they said they would “continue to work closely with the government of Libya in its efforts to restore security, build its institutions, and deliver vital goods and services to the people of Libya”.
The continued flow of oil and gas, they said, was “of critical importance to Libya’s efforts to lay the foundations of a secure, stable and prosperous state committed to democracy, good governance, the rule of law, national reconciliation and respect for human rights, and the fundamental freedoms of all Libyans.”
Libya’s energy resources “are a vital source of the country’s national wealth and belong to the Libyan people”, the statement said. A healthy economy is a fundamental pillar of security, it stressed. [/restrict]
