alkhabar
Maghreb
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (L) and Libyan Prime Minister Abd al-Raheem al-Keeb
"I believe that this new and free Libya can become an important security partner of the United States," said Panetta. "Libya is now in the hands of the Libyan people. They will chart their future. They will determine what assistance they require from the United States and the international community." VOA reports.
"This will be a long and difficult transition, but I am confident that you will succeed," he told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib
The United States on Friday announced the lifting of most of the sanctions it imposed during the Gadhafi rule, a move Panetta said is aimed at helping the new government get started.
It follows a UN decision on Friday to lift sanctions on Libya's central bank and its investments subsidiary .“I welcome tonight’s agreement by the UN Sanctions Committee to remove sanctions from the Central Bank of Libya and the Libya Arab Foreign Bank. This marks another significant moment in Libya’s transition. “It means that Libya’s government will now have full access to the significant funds needed to help rebuild the country, to underpin stability and to ensure that Libyans can make the transactions that are essential to everyday life.
“The UK has led the way in securing the release of these assets. We are now working to ensure that the EU will respond swiftly to this UN decision and will pass the regulation required to release about £6.5 billion frozen in the UK.
“The Transitional Government must now redouble its efforts to build a transparent and accountable financial system which will underpin a newly prosperous Libya. We will continue to work with the Libyan government and other nations to agree the steps required to remove remaining sanctions, so that Libya’s assets can be used for the benefit of its people.”
"This will be a long and difficult transition, but I am confident that you will succeed," he told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib
The United States on Friday announced the lifting of most of the sanctions it imposed during the Gadhafi rule, a move Panetta said is aimed at helping the new government get started.
It follows a UN decision on Friday to lift sanctions on Libya's central bank and its investments subsidiary .“I welcome tonight’s agreement by the UN Sanctions Committee to remove sanctions from the Central Bank of Libya and the Libya Arab Foreign Bank. This marks another significant moment in Libya’s transition. “It means that Libya’s government will now have full access to the significant funds needed to help rebuild the country, to underpin stability and to ensure that Libyans can make the transactions that are essential to everyday life.
“The UK has led the way in securing the release of these assets. We are now working to ensure that the EU will respond swiftly to this UN decision and will pass the regulation required to release about £6.5 billion frozen in the UK.
“The Transitional Government must now redouble its efforts to build a transparent and accountable financial system which will underpin a newly prosperous Libya. We will continue to work with the Libyan government and other nations to agree the steps required to remove remaining sanctions, so that Libya’s assets can be used for the benefit of its people.”
