The Tripoli based Deputy Prime Minister / Acting Health Minister and Chairman of the Southern Development and Rebuilding Authority, Ramadan Abu Janah, met at the headquarters of the Authority with British Ambassador to Libya Martin Longden today.
The meeting dealt with several important issues, most notably economic cooperation and current political developments.
The British Ambassador reaffirmed his country’s support for the political process in Libya, stressing the importance of moving forward towards organizing free and fair elections to achieve stability in the country.
The two sides also touched on the urgent need for all Libyan parties to join hands for the development and reconstruction of the south, given the positive effects of this on the region as a whole. This is particularly relevant in light of the availability of natural resources, water and solar energy sources, in addition to the presence of universities and specialized institutes with high competencies of academics who can be involved in developing a strategy aimed at the stability and prosperity of the south.
With regard to medical cooperation, the two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation, especially with regard to technology transfer and its localization in Libya. They also discussed inviting British companies specialized in hospital management to operate some health facilities in Libya. Furthermore, they underscored the importance of supporting and strengthening cooperation and partnerships between the private sectors in the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister referred to the reputation and quality of British medicines, expressing his support for increasing imports of medicines and medical equipment from the United Kingdom. He also emphasised the need to expedite the need to settle any previous debts, as well as to accelerate the implementation of supply contracts signed with British companies through the Public Tenders Committee and with the approval of the Administrative Control Authority.
At the end of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked the United Kingdom, a permanent member of the Security Council and Libya’s strategic partner, for its support and important role within the Security Working Group, one of the tracks emanating from the UN-facilitated Berlin process for Libya.
The meeting was also attended on the Libyan side by Ahmed Al-Ayat, Head of the Southern Bureau and Abdulnasser Al-Najah, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Advisor on Diplomatic and International Affairs.
