The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Unity issued a statement today, Saturday, in response to the comment issued by the Department of Near Eastern Affairs of the US State Department regarding developments in the situation related to the Central Bank of Libya.
The ministry stated that this suspension reflects the United States’ commitment to supporting financial stability and enhancing transparency in Libyan financial institutions, and considered it a positive step towards unifying and reforming the Central Bank.
The statement added: “We understand the concerns about the smear campaigns and lies targeting Libyan state institutions, and we agree that these concerns will end once those campaigns are removed and ranks are unified behind our national institutions.”
The Libyan Foreign Ministry continued in its statement: “We fully realize the increasing need to scrutinize financial transactions during the transitional stages of monetary institutions, and we consider these protocol procedures necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.”
The ministry’s statement confirmed that the new board of directors of the Central Bank of Libya assumed its duties smoothly and began activating the various systems, and the new administration responded to the international banking system after 9 years of the absence of governance and individual work, which was a basic requirement for all concerned international organizations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that this step represents an important development in the process of financial and administrative reform in Libya.
The ministry noted that with regard to achieving more consensus, the Presidential Council has declared its commitment to move forward and open up to dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations Mission, while giving the two councils a final opportunity to achieve consensus after 10 years of inaction, which has led to the strengthening of individual rule and the absence of transparency, and increased risks associated with implementing policies that do not reflect the will of the Libyan state.
The Foreign Ministry also affirmed in its statement its commitment to respecting Libya’s sovereignty and its continued confidence in the US dollar and American institutions, especially in light of the current challenges, tensions and struggle for influence in Africa.
Earlier, the US State Department announced that US and international banks have begun to re-evaluate their relationships with the Central Bank of Libya due to the uncertainty created by recent unilateral measures, noting that some financial transactions have been temporarily suspended until the vision regarding the legitimate governance of the Central Bank of Libya becomes clear.
The US State Department expressed concern that further disruptions to international correspondent banks could harm the Libyan economy and the well-being of Libyan families.
The US State Department called on Libyan authorities to take steps to preserve the bank’s credibility and find a solution that does not further damage its reputation and engagement with the international financial system, and reiterated the Security Council’s call for Libyan actors to urgently work together and with the UN mission to find a political solution that restores competent and trusted leadership to the Central Bank of Libya.
Last updated: August 31, 2024 – 19:04
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2024-09-02 05:01:38