Damascus, Aug. 31 (SANA) Syria reopened its embassy in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, after more than 14 years of closure and agreed with Libya to reactivate their Higher Joint Committee, in steps aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation.
Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said Sunday that resuming the embassy’s operations would strengthen relations between the two countries and help provide appropriate services to members of the Syrian community in Libya.
In a post on X, al-Shaibani said the Syrian side had signed an agreement to reactivate the Higher Joint Committee between Syria and Libya in line with political developments in both countries.
Al-Shaibani also met members of the Syrian community during his visit, describing them as a key pillar in building the new Syria and active partners in the country’s reconstruction and recovery.
Higher Joint Committee to resume work
Acting Libyan Foreign Minister El-Taher El-Baour described the reopening of the Syrian Embassy as an important occasion for developing bilateral cooperation and continuing discussions on ways to strengthen cooperation mechanisms between the two countries.
El-Baour said the Libyan-Syrian Higher Joint Committee is one of the main mechanisms for bilateral cooperation, noting that its previous meetings resulted in several agreements and memorandums of understanding.
He stressed the importance of resuming the committee’s meetings regularly to explore new opportunities for cooperation in economic, development and service sectors.
El-Baour also reaffirmed Libya’s support for Syria’s security, independence and full sovereignty over its territory and expressed solidarity with the Syrian people in the face of Israeli attacks, describing such violations as a threat to regional and international security.
Syria and Libya signed an agreement Sunday to activate a previous agreement establishing the Higher Joint Committee and update its framework in line with political developments in both countries. The agreement was signed by al-Shaibani and El-Baour in the presence of Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.
Syrian community in Libya
Al-Shaibani reopened the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli in the presence of El-Baour, Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Affairs Mohamed Ben Ghalboun, other government officials and heads and members of diplomatic missions accredited in the Libyan capital.
The Syrian community in Libya is estimated at around 200,000 people, concentrated mainly in Tripoli, Benghazi and other parts of the country.
The reopening is part of a series of steps by the Syrian state to reorganize and reactivate its diplomatic missions abroad and safeguard the interests of Syrians living overseas.
R.D/MF
