The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt completed a three day visit to Libya on 8 December. This is the first visit by a UK Minister since the formation of the new Libyan Government.
During his visit he met the Libyan Foreign and Interior Ministers and discussed with them a new partnership for the UK and Libya that will build on the UK's solidarity with the Libyan people over the past ten months. The UK and Libyan governments will look for practical ways to work together towards a future which sees a free and prosperous Libya playing a full role in the international community.
To that end, Mr Burt was delighted to be able to re-launch the British Council in Libya. Staff are now back at work, many technical skills and training programmes are already underway, and English language teaching will resume in March. The FCO's prestigious Chevening scholarship programme is open for applications and the Embassy will open a limited visa service again soon which will allow high level Libyan representatives to travel to the UK. It is hoped that this service will widen in the new year.
(Source: FCO)
