By Libyan Herald reporter.
Tripoli, 7 July 2015:
The Beida-based government’s information and cultural authority is to set up an office in Beirut . . .[restrict]according to the Libyan news agency LANA.
The aim of the move is to train Libyans in dealing with information and culture and organise programmes on both as well and events in Lebanon on Libya’s culture.
Relations between Libya and Lebanon have been strained for over two years, with Lebanese with Iranian visas in their passports being refused entry because of the notion that they might be Shiite proselytisers. A planned Libyan-Lebanese Investment Forum in early 2013 was cancelled at the last minute because of the chill in relations.
The authorities in Tripoli still regards Lebanon with a degree of suspicion, largely because of its Shiite and Christian connections. The government in Beida, however, appears to have no such concerns. Last week it was announced that Libya Airlines is shortly to relaunch flights between Labraq and Beirut.
For it part, Lebanon’s prime interest in Libya remains the fate of its Shiite Imam Musa Sadr. Murdered on Qaddafi’s orders either in 1978 or, according to Abdullah Senussi, in 1980 or 1981, Lebanon’s Shiite community still harbour the dream that he is alive in a prison in Libya. [/restrict]
