Libya refused to sign the final statement of the first International Summit on Peace in Ukraine, which concluded on Sunday in Switzerland.
The summit was notably missing the presence of US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and any representative from Russia.
The organisers displayed a list of signatory countries on screens at the press centre of the summit, which was attended by representatives from 100 countries and international organisations. Out of the 92 countries present, 80 signed the final document. Libya, along with Armenia, Bahrain, Brazil, the Vatican, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, and the UAE, did not sign.
The final statement of the summit called for involving all parties in the conflict to halt hostilities. It reaffirmed the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity for all nations, including Ukraine.
In another context, the US Treasury Department recently imposed sanctions on the Russian state-owned company Goznak, accusing it of printing over $1 billion in counterfeit Libyan currency. This action is part of a broader package of sanctions targeting Russian entities and individuals.
Goznak, known for producing secure documents such as passports and currency, is alleged to have worsened Libya’s economic crisis by flooding its economy with fake money. According to the US, this counterfeit currency has significantly exacerbated Libya’s financial difficulties, contributing to the country’s ongoing instability.
This move by the US aligns with previous sanctions from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, which have also targeted Goznak for similar activities. The counterfeit currency issue highlights the broader geopolitical contest between the US and Russia over influence in Libya, a country still divided between rival governments in the east and west.
