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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 17 July 2018

UN envoy says reforms needed to resume Libyan oil production

By EDITH M. LEDERER National Oil Corp., with in-
Associated Press ternational support, to issue
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The a "force majeure" to halt
U.N. envoy for Libya said exports, which are Libya's
Monday he fears the re- main source of income.
cent agreement to resume The LNA said it agreed to re-
oil production in the con- turn the ports for a commit-
flict-torn country will not ment by the Tripoli-based
hold unless two issues are government in the west to
speedily tackled — distribu- investigate allegations that
tion of wealth and "endem- oil and gas revenues had
ic plundering of resources." been used to fund terrorist
Ghassan Salame told the organizations.
Security Council in a video The Security Council
briefing that unless the is- condemned attacks by
sues are addressed it will Jadhran's militia against the
also "be difficult to ad- country's oil infrastructure
vance the political pro- and said it now expects the
cess." National Oil Corp. "to con-
Libya descended into cha- tinue its work unimpeded."
os following the 2011 upris- Salame told council mem-
ing that toppled longtime bers the U.N. "will redouble
dictator Moammar Gad- In this image, Ghassan Salame, United Nations representative on Libya (UNSMIL), addresses the its efforts to push for eco-
hafi, who was later killed. U.N. Security Council, Monday July 16, 2018 at U.N. headquarters. nomic reforms, as the very
The country is now split be- Associated Press stability and unity of the
tween rival governments country are at stake."
in the east and west, each leadership by legitimate conditions will not be met," charge of the oil ports and Libya is "in decline," he said.
supported by an array of bodies, formed through he warned. would resume exports. The "The crisis in the oil cres-
militias. elections." In a statement after closed firm is controlled by the cent gave us a glimpse of
The Security Council has "However, a handful of consultations following the U.N.-backed government what is in store if tangible
backed the holding of pres- people defy this popular open briefing, the Security in Tripoli, which is in the progress is not made now
idential and parliamentary desire," Salame said. "The Council "underlined sup- west. — economic collapse, the
elections in Libya this year few who benefit from the port for the U.N.-facilitated, The self-styled Libyan Na- breakdown of public ser-
but Salame warned that status quo will, if left un- Libyan-owned political pro- tional Army allied with the vices, and more frequent
"without the right condi- checked, do whatever cess, including the prepa- east's interim government and intense outbreaks of
tions, it would be unwise to they can to hinder elec- rations for credible and in- and led by Field Marshal violence."
conduct elections." tions. Unfortunately, they clusive elections." Khalifa Hifter seized the "In a country where terror-
He said national political can do much, especially as But the U.N.'s most power- ports earlier this year from ists lurk, where criminals are
consultations over the last they hold crucial, and too ful body made no mention another militia led by Ibra- waiting to traffic migrants,
14 weeks that included often lucrative, official posi- of "spoilers" trying to thwart him Jadhran, a rebel com- where foreign mercenaries
more than 75 meetings in tions." the elections. mander opposed to Hifter are increasing in number,
Libya and abroad and over "Without clear and strong The Security Council did who took part in the 2011 where the oil industry hangs
7,000 participants showed messaging to those who welcome the National Oil uprising that toppled Gad- in the balance, this should
that "the Libyan people would attempt to stall or Corp.'s announcement last hafi. be of concern to all," Sal-
want clear and effective disrupt these elections, the Wednesday that it was in The seizure prompted the ame said.q