Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh is set for an official visit to Washington to discuss the latest political developments with key figures in the US.
Saleh’s Media Advisor, Fathi Al-Marimi said that the visit aims to “strengthen ties and garner support for Libya’s political process.”
He affirmed the significance of consultations with countries interested in Libyan affairs, and highlighted the openness of the Libyan Parliament to engage with the United States. As well as acknowledging its keen interest in the Libyan dossier, and support for a political solution through Libyan-led dialogue leading to elections.
Al-Marimi denied rumours about seeking the services of American public relations firms to enhance relations with US officials. He noted that direct communication occurs without intermediaries, emphasizing the Parliament’s pivotal role in Libyan politics.
Notably, the United States announced an additional contribution of $4.5 million dollars for strengthening Libya’s civil aviation sector, and airport security.
This announcement came during a meeting between US Special Envoy Ambassador Richard Norland and Libyan Deputy Minister of Transport for Air Transport Affairs, Khaled Al-Swessi.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North Africa Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Joshua Harris and US Chargé d’Affaires, Jeremy Berndt also participated in the meeting.
Norland affirmed the United States’ commitment to assisting Libya in building a secure and efficient civil aviation sector, connecting the country to the rest of the world.
Harris stated that this new funding will support efforts to promote stability in southern Libya, foster more economic opportunities, and enable Sebha Airport to expand operations as an aviation hub.
“Under this framework, the United States is providing an additional $4.5 million for Sebha Airport through the US Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism’s Libya Aviation and Airport Security Program,” the US Embassy said in a statement.
“Since 2018, the US has allocated over $20 million to Libyan aviation security. Nearly 3,000 Libyan airport officials have attended US, sponsored trainings, including nearly 300 women,” it added.
Libya has been marked by political instability and violent conflict since the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Libya fell into a prolonged civil war, resulting in divided authorities, economic collapse, and a humanitarian crisis.