TRIPOLI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- German Ambassador to Libya Christian Buck on Thursday said that German companies are willing to return to Libya, after leaving the country due to deteriorating security situation.
Buck made his remark during a meeting with the UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj in the capital Tripoli.
According to a statement by the prime minister's information office, the meeting discussed the latest political situation in Libya and economic cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, the ambassador reiterated his country's support for the Government of National Accord, praising the prime minister's efforts to consolidate democratic process in Libya and stressing Germany's aspiration to develop cooperation between the two countries, the statement said.
Buck also pointed out that German companies are willing to resume work in Libya, and announced that the German minister of economy intends to visit Libya in July, revealing that a number of German institutions wish to hold an economic forum in Libya in the near future, the statement added.
"The prime minister welcomed the return of German companies in the framework of an effective economic partnership," the statement said.
Most foreign companies had to leave Libya following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Gaddafi's regime, due to insecurity and chaos in the north African country.
"The prime minister also stressed that the success of any initiative depends on a collective and unified regional stand that is binding on all and stopping any party that attempts to obstruct," the statement added.
Serraj also stressed the importance of holding elections according to a constitutional base.
Libya is suffering a political division between authorities in the east and the west, despite signing a UN-sponsored political agreement by the Libyan parties and appointment of Serraj's unity government in December 2015.
UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, in September 2017 proposed an action plan to end the political crisis in Libya, which includes amendment of the political agreement and holds presidential and parliamentary elections before the end of 2018. Enditem
