Libya takes part in the meetings on Euro-Mediterranean partnership

The assistant secretary general for media affairs in the people's committee for foreign affairs and international cooperation (the Foreign Ministry) in Libya, Hasounah al-Shawesh, said on Wednesday in Tripoli that Libya has received an invitation from the European Union to take part in the next meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

He said, "Libya's participation in these meetings comes because it is an effective member in the international community on the grounds of the role it plays in the Mediterranean region and its relentless work in order to make this sea a lake of security, peace and cooperation for the countries of this region."

The Libyan official gave no details about the meeting or about the position to be given to Libya, which had previously taken part in the recent Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meeting which was held in Germany in April, in which and Libya was an "observer."

Libya's participation will be the first of its kind since the launching of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership in 1995 in Barcelona which had one of its objectives was the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean zone for free exchange in the year 2010 and the establishment of a region of security and stability.

In order to be a member enjoying full rights in what has been called "the Barcelona process" Libya has to wait for the lifting of sanctions imposed on it by the UN, which are currently suspended.