Less than three months after the end of the conflict in Libya that ousted former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi after 42 years of rule, the Saudi Press Agency, ASP, has reported that Libya and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore full diplomatic ties and exchange ambassadors.
It follows a meeting on Sunday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh during which Prince Saud Al-Faisal, minister of foreign affairs, received Abdulbasit Abdulqadir Al-Badri, envoy of the Chairman of Libyan National Transitional Council, NTC. Al-Badri who conveyed to the Saudi Prince a message from the NTC head Mustafa Abul-Jalil.
Prince Saud Al-Faisal congratulated the Libyan envoy on forming a new government and both sides agreed on resuming bilateral relations, reopening the Saudi Embassy in Tripoli and exchanging ambassadors.
The Saudi foreign minister also asserted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will stand by Libya, wishing the Libyan government and people security, stability and prosperity.
The kingdom had recalled its ambassador to Libya during the conflict that began in February in Benghazi and ended when Gaddafi was captured and killed on October 20 last year.
The Saudi official news agency said that after years of tension with Gaddafi, with Saudi officials accusing the Gaddafi regime of trying to assassinate Saudi King Abdullah on a number of occasions when he was crown prince in 2004, Saudi Arabia wishes to have good relations with Libya’s new leaders. Sources close to the NTC told tripolipost.com that the wishes are mutual.
(Source: Tripoli Post)
