The businessman Husni Bey said during a televised interview for Libyan WTV channel and Tabadul Platform that lifting force majeure on oilfields and ports is an international, Libyan, and UN initiative. According to him, it is the product of a rational effort.
“The UAE did not welcome the lifting of force majeure on oil facilities. Welcoming this step was only possible on the condition that a bank account would have been opened, either in Emirates or in a foreign country, to deposit oil revenues.” Husni Bey said, pointing out that Sanalla did not only reject the proposal, but also demanded to apply the Libyan law and deposit all such revenues in the NOC’s account at the Libyan Foreign Bank.
ِ”Considering the Libyan law, what Sanalla did was 100% legal. The disagreement revolves around the date of transferring the amount.” Bey pointed out, adding that the executive authority has not yet specified the date since it is among its prerogatives.
The spokesperson clarified that those who participated in the dialogue were not in Sochi. This dialogue had been participated by the United Nations, the US Embassy, France, Egypt, the UAE, Al-Sarraj and Al-Kabir. In addition to other representatives from the east such as Aguila Saleh and those around him.
Husni Bey said: “When the power went down in the east and power plants stopped working because there was no gas, they were obliged to look for any solution… Using the associated gas was the initial proposed solution. However, Sanalla refused the proposal, arguing that lifting the oil blockade cannot be directed towards resolving one aspect of the problem as the force majeure would be announced once again.“
The businessman added that the first party representing the Eastern Region had suggested lifting the blockade on oil facilities with the requirement to obtain a share of oil revenues by as much as 38 %.
According to Husni Bey, a reply was received to report that there were no funds to share, given that oil revenues are devoted to the salaries, the police, the army, education and health. Nevertheless, a part of it is allocated to the Eastern Region.
“Lifting the blockade on oil facilities in return for depositing the revenue into a common bank account so that it would be shared between the Western and Eastern Regions was among many other suggestions that had been put forward.”
“Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Egypt, and the Eastern Region requested to open a foreign account. For his part, Sanalla stressed that he cannot violate the law as the Libyan law imposes selling oil and transferring revenue funds to the Libyan Foreign Bank.”
“Through his speech about freezing the revenues, Sanalla tried not to include the liability of other persons in order to protect the Presidential Council (PC) and any party from the Eastern Region,” Bey said, adding that the National Oil Corporation (NOC) cannot take such a decision individually, it rather needs the PC’s support.
“Transferring oil revenues to the Libyan Foreign Bank is based on a decision taken by the General Secretary of the General People’s Committee in 1994, which was considered illegal at that time.” the businessman said.