Libyan, Saudi foreign ministers discuss 'Libya Stability Initiative'

By Halime Afra Aksoy

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Libya’s foreign minister and her Saudi counterpart discussed the "Libya Stability Initiative" proposed by the Libyan Government of National Unity in June, said a statement released Friday.

Najla Mangoush and Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met Thursday in the Saudi capital Riyadh, said Libya’s Foreign Ministry.

Mangoush emphasized the importance of activating the previously signed agreements between the two countries and strengthening cooperation in all fields, according to the statement.

During the meeting, she said Libya plans to organize and chair an international conference at the end of October to start implementing the articles of the Libya Stability Initiative based on the results of the Berlin I and II Conferences and UN Security Council resolutions 2570 and 2571.

She invited her Saudi counterpart to attend the conference.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister meanwhile said his country supports anything aimed at stabilizing Libya.

Expressing Saudi Arabia’s support for the initiative, he pointed out that the Libyan Stability Initiative is a genuine Libyan initiative that aims to ensure stability, security and peace in the country and to realize the expectations of the Libyan people in terms of development and construction.

Mangoush announced in June that Libya had launched a "Libyan Stability Initiative" reflecting the Libyan people’s expectations.

In February, a UN-led Libya forum voted on an interim government, choosing Mohammed al-Menfi as head of the Presidential Council and Abdulhamid Dbeibeh as prime minister.

Libyans hope the new unity government will end years of civil war that have engulfed the country since the ouster and killing of strongman Muammar al-Qaddafi in 2011.