In a recent interview with the Novosti Agency, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the Government of National Unity of the State of Libya, Taher Al-Baour expressed the enduring and positive relationship between Libya and Russia. Al-Baour stated unequivocally that there are no reservations regarding cooperation with Moscow and emphasized the historical stability of their ties.
“Libya and Russia have a long-standing historical relationship, and for the most part, it is stable,” Al-Baour remarked. “The government in Tripoli has no objections or reservations about collaborating with Russia.”
Al-Baour affirmed Russia’s importance as a significant player historically in the Middle East and North Africa region, stating, “We have always relied on Russia to be a balancing force or a state that creates equilibrium in the region.”
The Libyan official also confirmed the government’s readiness to collaborate on the opening of a Russian Consulate General in Benghazi, located in the eastern part of the country. He noted that there are no political obstacles to the consulate’s opening, but procedural and administrative challenges still need to be addressed.
Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Libya, Haidar Aganin, mentioned the delay in opening the Russian Consulate General in Benghazi. The embassy continues its efforts to convince authorities in Tripoli about the necessity of establishing the consulate.
It’s worth mentioning that the Russian Embassy in Libya fully resumed its operations in the capital, Tripoli, in the summer of 2023, with the official opening ceremony taking place last month.
