Libyan Embassy resumes work in Damascus

The Libyan Embassy in Syria officially resumed work on Tuesday in Damascus.  The delegation of the interim government of Libya from Benghazi and the deputy head of the Syrian Foreign Ministry Faisal Mekdad took part in the ceremony of raising the flag over the diplomatic mission in the metropolitan area of ​​Abu Rumman.

 "The resumption of diplomatic relations between our fraternal countries will allow them to jointly confront common challenges and, in particular, Turkish interference in the affairs of the Arab peoples," Mekdad said.  According to the diplomat, "the flags of other Arab states will soon be raised in the sky of Damascus."

 On March 1, a memorandum was signed in Damascus on the resumption of diplomatic relations between Syria and Libya.  Both sides agreed "on coordinating foreign policy activities and joint steps to repulse Turkish aggression against the Syrian and Libyan peoples."  On Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received a Libyan delegation consisting of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Provisional Government in Benghazi, Abdurrahman Al-Uheirish and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdel Hadi al-Houweija.

 In Libya, there are two executive bodies in parallel: the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) Faiz Sarraj in Tripoli and the temporary cabinet of Abdullah Abdurrahman at-Thani, operating in Benghazi in the east of the country and relying on Field Liberal Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

 As a result of the second round of inter-Libyan negotiations in Geneva on February 23, a draft ceasefire agreement between the GNA and LNA forces was prepared.  The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Hasan Salame, said that if the parties agree to a truce, the third round of negotiations could be held in March.