U.S. Assistant Secretary Barbara Leaf and U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland held talks in Tunis on Wednesday to discuss “prospects for boosting the U.S. diplomatic presence in Libya to promote stability, security cooperation, economic growth, and sustainable development”.
“We eagerly hope that the U.S. Embassy in Libya can permanently return to Tripoli as soon as possible to provide consular, trade promotion, educational advising, and other services,” stated the office of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. State Department via Twitter.
“It is tragic that warring factions with their own agendas have been unable to meet the aspirations of millions of Libyans, including students, entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders, who desperately seek to choose the leadership of their country peacefully,” it added.
“Libya’s full integration into the global economy is being hampered by actors pursuing destabilizing agendas undermining peace and national unity”.
“The outbreak of violence in Tripoli this past weekend demonstrates that political figures from both East and West must reconcile, commit to a constitutional basis for elections, and put the interests of the Libyan people ahead of their own.”