Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with the Head of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed Al-Menfi

(Dimitris Papamitsos / Greek Prime Minister's Office)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met, on Thursday, with the Head of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed Al-Menfi, in the context of his meetings during the 77th UN General Assembly.

They discussed the latest developments in Libya and expressed their concern about the armed conflicts that were reported in Tripoli last month. The Prime Minister stressed the need to abstain from violence and to rapidly restart the Political Process in order to adopt the constitutional framework that will allow the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed out that Greece will continue to stand by Libya and the new, representative government that will emerge from the elections.

He also reiterated Greece’s steady position on the direct and full withdrawal of all foreign forces present in Libyan territory, both tactical and mercenaries, as a necessary precondition to ensure free elections and the formation of a new environment, without external interference.

The Prime Minister informed Mr. Al-Menfi about the escalation of the Turkish aggressiveness and extreme rhetoric, which undermines stability and security in the region.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined Greece’s interest in Libya and its people. He stressed that Greece was the first European country that reopened its Embassy in Tripoli and then opened a Consulate General in Benghazi. He added that himself, as well as Ministers of the Greek government have visited Libya, while, at the same time, Greece participates constructively in efforts to resolve the political impasse in the neighboring country.

They also discussed the prospect of Greece providing its assistance, at a technical level, to protect and restore monuments and archaeological sites in Libya, as Greece had a similar, significant presence in the neighboring country in the past.