- Title: US envoy endorses Libya's UN-backed govt, in flying visit to Tripoli
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF SECURITY U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA, PETER BODDE, AND PRIME MINISTER OF LIBYA'S GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD (GNA), FAYEZ SERRAJ, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE U.S. FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA, PETER BODDE, SAYING: "In our meeting, we reiterated the United States support for Libya as a unified, secure and prosperous state under a government that can serve the Libyan people. We applaud the ongoing Libyan dialogue on how to form a government that has broad acceptance across Libya within the framework of this (unclear) agreement. We welcome Libyan efforts to draft and ratify a new constitution and to hold general elections next year. We also support the Government of National Accord making the difficult decisions required to invigorate the economy." SERRAJ ARRIVING TO SPEAK LIBYA FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GNA PRIME MINISTER, FAYEZ SERRAJ, SAYING: "Your visit to us today is considered an important turning point in the future of our mutual relations towards peace and we wish for the U.S. delegation to soon return to Tripoli to create an effective ground for cooperation and negotiation in the near future." VARIOUS OF BODDE AND OTHER OFFICIALS BOARDING MILITARY PLANE
- Embargoed: 6th June 2017 18:39
- Keywords: GNA Prime Minister Fayez Serraj US ambassador to Libya Peter Bodde USA
- Location: TRIPOLI, LIBYA
- City: TRIPOLI, LIBYA
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I29ZYF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The U.S. ambassador to Libya pledged Washington's support for its U.N.-backed government and urged rival factions to avoid civil war, as he made a brief visit to the country on Tuesday (May 23) for the first time in nearly three years.
Peter Bodde, who is based in Tunis, and Marine General Thomas Waldhauser, the top U.S. military commander overseeing troops in Africa, flew into Tripoli for two hours to meet the prime minister of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) and other senior officials.
Bodde said he welcomed efforts to introduce a new constitution as well as economic reforms.
The trip comes after uncertainty over U.S. policy in Libya following Donald Trump's election as president in November. Trump said in April he did not see a role for the United States in Libya apart from defeating Islamic State.
The GNA has struggled to function since arriving in Tripoli in March last year, failing to resolve deep-rooted security and economic crises in western and southern Libya. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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