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By Libya Herald staff
Tripoli, 28 May 2014:
After a hiatus since the revolution, the Libyan Indian Friendship Association (LIFA) has re-formed and . . .[restrict]held its inaugural meeting on 24 May 2014 at the Embassy of India.
The event was attended by former Ambassador of India Nuri Al-Madani and current Ambassador of India Anil Trigunayat, as well as a number of Indians and Libyans.
Trigunayat gave the opening remarks, emphasising the importance of volunteer work and cooperation, and the ability of such associations to promote mutual understanding between cultures and nations. Al-Madani outlined the history of the LIFA, which had existed in Libya until February 2011, and discussed possible activities that the new association could undertake.
Those present chose two Libyans and two Indians to form a steering committee to help guide the association as it begins this new chapter. According to Mohammed Rashid Khan, First Secretary of Information and Culture at the embassy, the steering committee will choose when to hold the next meeting, probably after one or two months.
Khan told the Libya Herald that the association was independent of the embassy yet could play an important role in relations between Libya and India. “Many things are not possible through political channels, but we can promote cooperation and mutual understanding at the ground level through a friendship association,” he said.
The association will organise events, workshops, exhibitions and screenings of Bollywood movies. It will also disseminate information about Indian scholarships. According the the Embassy of India’s website, there is also a long-term goal of establishing a community centre.
The cost of membership in the association is LD 50. For more information about coming events with LIFA, visit the embassy’s website: www.indianembassy.ly . [/restrict]
