NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor on official visit to Libya

he Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, has made a two-day visit to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya). During the visit, he met the Prime Minister of Libya, Dr El Baghdadi Ali El Mahmoudi and the Libyan Leader, Muammar-el-Gaddafi. Prime Minister Pahor was accompanied by the Minister of the Economy, Dr Matej Lahovnik; the Minister of Transport, Dr Patrick Vlačič, and a strong business delegation, reflecting the main purpose of the talks – strengthening comprehensive co-operation, particularly in economic fields, between Slovenia and Libya.
  

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 
In a statement to the press yesterday after the meeting with Dr Mahmoudi, Mr Pahor expressed his satisfaction with the successful talks devoted primarily to strengthening co-operation between Slovenia and Libya in the areas of construction, energy (petroleum and natural gas), telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, drinking water supply, tourism and many other areas. The two agreed that the presence of Slovenian companies in Libya might be increased, especially in the construction industry, as Libya has planned numerous road infrastructure projects. In this context, the Slovenian Prime Minister stressed that trade between the two countries last year reached 150 million euros, and that Slovenia should take advantage of the favourable attitude to Slovenian companies on the part of the Libyan Government, since this number could be as much as ten times higher in the following years.
    

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 
Prime Minister Mahmoudi added that the ministers of transport of the two countries, Dr Vlačič and Muhammad Ali Zidane, will soon meet to sign a transport agreement.
 
The talks also focused on topical international issues, including the role of Slovenia in the European Union and the role of Libya in the African Union, and the situation in the Middle East and the Balkans. They also touched on issues of eventual reform of the United Nations. Prime Minister Pahor said that Slovenia supports UN reform in the sense that non-permanent members of the UN Security Council should play a more important role. He also expressed his hope that Libya would support Slovenia's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2014.
 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 
Today, Mr Pahor attended the Slovenian-Libyan business conference. In his address to the participants, he reiterated Slovenia's commitment to open its markets to foreign investors in spite of the current economic and financial crisis. He also announced his intention, together with the business delegation, to move on to visits of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. "In yesterday’s talks, the Libyan authorities offered a message of friendship; we then examined together the options for future economic co-operation and agreed to launch long-term joint projects," said Mr Pahor, adding that the two countries intended to sign agreements shortly on avoidance of double taxation and on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments.

 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

  

On the margins of the conference, the Slovenian and Libyan economic ministers signed a Memorandum on economic co-operation between the Ministry of the Economy of the Republic of Slovenia and the Libyan General People's Committee for Industry, Economy and Trade. At the initiative of Libyan businessmen put forward during the conference, an agreement establishing a Libyan-Slovenian business board was signed. This will act as a meeting point for businesses in the two countries. At the same time, the Libyan business representatives offered premises in Tripoli for an office to act as headquarters for Slovenian businessmen helping in the development of economic co-operation, since, Slovenia currently has no permanent representation in Libya.

 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

  

At the close of his visit to Libya, Prime Minister Pahor, accompanied by his Libyan counterpart, Dr Mahmoudi, met with the Libyan leader, Muammar-el-Gaddafi. The two prime ministers presented the economic agreements that had been signed during the visit to Mr Gaddafi, who expressed his appreciation. In thanking Mr Pahor for the visit, Mr Gaddafi said that he considered him a friend who will always be welcome in Libya. Prime Minister Pahor replied that he was honoured by the warmth with which he had been received in Libya and assured Mr Gaddafi that Slovenia will always be happy to welcome him.