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“NOC is the only sovereign institution legally able to sell or purchase oil”

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 The UN Support Mission in Libya welcomed France’s action that stopped Libya-bound tanker from loading oil, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Friday.

Media reported on Thursday that a French navy frigate stopped a tanker from loading refined oil products from Libya’s eastern port of Tobruk, and prevented the ship from reaching its destination, according to Bloomberg.

“The UN welcomes France’s actions and all efforts to uphold the UN oil embargo, as stipulated in UN resolutions,” Haq said.

The French frigate was on the naval European Union’s Operation IRINI, set to monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya.

“This type of concerted collective action is a good example of how the international community can cooperate to uphold implementation of Security Council resolutions,” Haq added.

The spokesman also stressed that the Libyan National Oil Corporation, based in Tripoli, is the only sovereign institution, legally able to sell or purchase oil and oil-related products.

Seizure by Malta of $1.1 Billion of Counterfeit Libyan Currency

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The United States commends the Government of the Republic of Malta’s announcement May 26 of its seizure of $1.1 billion of counterfeit Libyan currency printed by Joint Stock Company Goznak—a Russian state-owned company—and ordered by an illegitimate parallel entity.

  United States Department of State stressed that the Central Bank of Libya headquartered in Tripoli is Libya’s only legitimate central bank, adding that the influx of counterfeit, Russian-printed Libyan currency in recent years has exacerbated Libya’s economic challenges.

“The United States remains committed to working with the United Nations and international partners to deter illicit activities that undermine Libya’s sovereignty and stability, and are inconsistent with internationally-recognized sanctions regimes.  This incident once again highlights the need for Russia to cease its malign and destabilizing actions in Libya,” it said.

Turkey says may begin oil exploration under Libya deal in 3-4 months

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Turkey may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with Libya that was condemned by others in the region including Greece, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday.

Libya’s internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime delimitation deal last year. Turkey says it creates an exclusive economic zone from its southern coast to Libya’s northeast coast, and protects rights to resources.

Greece, Cyprus and others oppose the accord and call it illegal, an accusation Ankara has rejected. The European Union also opposes the maritime deal that was signed alongside an agreement for Turkey to provide military support to the GNA, which has battled forces based in eastern Libya for more than a year.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the launch of Turkey’s Fatih oil-and-gas drilling ship to the Black Sea, Donmez said Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), which had applied for an exploration permit in the eastern Mediterranean, would begin operations in areas under its license after the process was completed.

“Within the framework of the agreement we reached with Libya we will be able to start our oil exploration operations there within three to four months,” Donmez said. Turkey’s new Kanuni drill ship would also go to the Mediterranean later this year, he added.

The move could further stoke tensions in the region, where Turkey has been at loggerheads for years with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel over ownership of natural resources. Turkey could also face possible EU sanctions over its operations.

Dollar exchange rate continues rise in the Libyan black market

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Dollar exchange rate continued to rise in the Libyan black market, reaching 6.21 dinars (LYD), while the euro rose to record 6.70 LYD.

Traders attributed the reason for the rise to the spread spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

It is reported that the dollar exchange rate was 6.15 dinars yesterday.

Russia supports ceasefire in Libya

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said Russia supports an “immediate ceasefire” in Libya.

The situation in Libya keeps degrading and the truce announced in January has been completely derailed, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said Friday.

“It is not just a difficult situation in Libya, we can see that it keeps getting worse.

The military and political situation in Libya keeps getting worse and the truce announced in January is completely derailed,” Zakharova said at an online conference.

“We believe that any further prolongation of the crisis, and we see it as a systemic crisis, can result in catastrophic consequences for Libya and its long-suffering people,” the spokeswoman said.

WHO Libya: Funds received for Covid-19 response

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In its updated report, WHO said it has requested USD 3 265 000 to support the response to COVID-19 in Libya.

Thus far, it has received USD 2 950 000 in contributions and firm pledges.

It has submitted funding proposals to the African Development Bank (USD 500 000), USAID (USD 925 550) and the EU (EUR 6 million each for WHO, UNICEF and IOM).

Libya: UK mercenaries involved in failed mission

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According to the national British daily broadsheet newspaper , the Telegraph, five British mercenaries were involved in an operation to fly assault helicopters for warlord Khalifa Haftar in his offensive to capture Libya’s capital Tripoli, British media reported Friday.

The Telegraph report, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of a secret UN report, revealed that the mercenaries were offered up to $150,000 each for their role in the plot, which did not go well.

“$30,000 to $50,000 a month, or $20,000 to $40,000 per month depending on whether you were pilot or aircrewman,” the source added.

Among the 20 mercenaries who traveled to Libya last June, five were former British military personnel who served in Royal Maries and Royal Air Forces, the report suggested.

The report also alleged that the operation was led by Steven Lodge, a former South African Air Force officer who also served in the British military. But Lodge denied the accusations.

The operation “ended in farce” after a row broke out with Haftar over the quality of helicopters, according to the report.

The 20 men fled to Malta by military-grade Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), where they were arrested and then released without charge.

Earlier in mid-May, international media, citing a UN report, revealed that two Dubai-based companies sent Western mercenaries to support Haftar in his offensive to capture Libya’s capital Tripoli.

They traveled to Libya in June 2019 for a “well funded private military company operation” to support Haftar’s offensive against the Libyan government.

Two diplomats told American media that two companies supplied “Haftar’s forces with helicopters, drones and cyber capabilities through a complex web of shell companies.

US envoy, Zintan mayor discuss latest situation

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US ambassador to Libya held a phone call with the mayor of Zintan, a city located 170 kilometers southwest of Libya’s capital Tripoli, to discuss latest situation in the region.

“Ambassador [Richard] Norland and Mayor of Zintan [Mustafa] Al Baroni discussed yesterday current developments and the desire of western Libyans to see an end to the offensive on Tripoli,” the US embassy said on Twitter Thursday.

“The Ambassador stressed that only a comprehensive political process can achieve peace and stability for Libya,” it added.