Text of the speech by HE Mr Omar R Jelban:
Dear Chairman and Members of the Conservative Council,Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank you for inviting me here tonight and for you being here. It is a great honour for me to speak to such a distinguished audience about the main directions of the foreign policy in Libya.
The official name of Libya is The Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The word Jamahiriya means “state of masses”, which includes all its peoples and run by all its peoples regardless of race, language or beliefs.
The General People’s Congress (GPC) is formally responsible for formulating policy and passing laws in accordance with the decisions of the many local and regional People’s Congresses. The General People’s Congress meets annually and comprises delegates from the Basic People’s Congresses, the 20 administrative Sha’abiyat (municipalities) Popular Committees and the newly elected communes. Representatives from the trade unions and professional organisations also attend.
The General People’s Congress provides a forum for debate and criticism and has, on occasions, obstructed policies proposed.
Libya is blessed with an excellent location as it overlooks the Mediterranean Sea through an 1800km long shore from the north that connects it with southern European countries and rest of the world. Having its location in the mid-African North, Libya has been a convenient link between the Eastern and Western Arab states. In addition, Libyan territories extend to more than 1200km south, which connects the country with other African countries.
Libya enjoys Africa’s second largest oil and gas reserves and ranks in the world’s top five on a per capita basis. Based on current production, reserves will last for more than 70 years. With most of Libya’s territory still untapped, there is a high potential for more oil and gas discoveries as evidenced by the six oil and gas fields finds made in 2009 by international oil companies. International partners continue to have a very strong interest in the oil and gas sector.
Libyan-British relations have been steadily opening up recently as a result of the unwavering commitment from the two sides to foster bilateral relations for the benefit of the two countries. This achievement is driven by the perceived mutual understanding of the necessity to develop the existing links and widening the sphere of co-operation to include new areas.
There are big commercial opportunities in Libya for British Business. In 2009, trade between UK and Libya was worth a total of £1.5 billion. UK visible exports to Libya in the first half of this year were up 15% year on year. I think that is a remarkable achievement.
Educational links are highly rated in Libyan-British relations. There is a considerable number “thousands” of Libyan students studying in the United Kingdom. Strong bonds have been established between educational institutions in the two countries. The British Council, following its return to Libya in 2000, is playing a significant role, particularly in promoting academic exchange programmes and offering opportunities for Libyan students to study in the U.K. The British Council has also established regular programmes of visits and some other educational and cultural activities.
Relations between our two countries, which have been restored in July 1999, are getting stronger in the economic field than ever before. These relations are in continuous rapid progress. British investments and bilateral co-operation are steadily increasing. There are currently a considerable number of big British companies operating in Libya, like Shell, BP and BG, in addition to many others. I reiterate here that British companies are warmly welcome to establish investment projects in Libya, and the Libyan Embassy in London is always willing to provide assistance and advice to potential British investors.
Political relations between the two countries are in good shape. All issues are subject to discussions between the two countries which are less in number than before. Things are moving smoothly and pending issues are effectively being dealt with through the diplomatic channels and the Libyan-British Follow-up Committee.
The Libyan Jamahiriya is rich in terms of its natural resources, its geographical location and the skills of its citizens who are pushing forward the wheel of comprehensive development in all areas, including new projects and ambitious plans which the country has never witnessed before. Therefore, the time is now right for British investors and businessmen to get engaged in these development projects with support and advice from the Libyan-British Business Council, for the benefit of the two sides.
Negotiations are ongoing for an EU-Libya Framework Agreement, which will provide a platform for political dialogue and sectoral cooperation between the EU and Libya on areas such as human rights, migration, combating terrorism, energy security and trade.
With regards to peace and security in the Mediterranean, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya calls for a Mediterranean free of foreign fleets except for those belonging to states overlooking the Mediterranean. Libya also calls for the protection of the Mediterranean environment and for enhancing relations between Europe and Africa across the Mediterranean. The Barcelona Process survived for ten years, then faded away because of lack of harmony between its member states, especially Israel, which refuses to co-operate to agree to any solution that would put an end to the Palestinian issue. The Union for the Mediterranean met from the outset, the same destiny of the Barcelona Process for the same reasons.
We have to work through a European-African Union, the linking point of which should be the North African Mediterranean coastal states and the South European Mediterranean states.
The reform of the United Nations has been the central issue of discussion in the United Nations and other forms, and we believe that true reform of the United Nations means putting decision-making power in the hands of all of its members; that is to say, in the hands of the General Assembly, were all countries have equal votes. The Security Council will become a tool to implement General Assembly resolutions and we will overcome the obstacles caused by the veto, which puts international decision-making power in the hands of the permanent members of the Security Council and entrenches the resort to a selective approach and double standards in dealing with international problems.
In our efforts to reform the Security Council, we must consider a new formula for permanent membership in which membership would be awarded to geographical blocs and not to specific countries. In this regard, we call for the African Union to be granted permanent membership of the Security Council, with all the privileges enjoyed by the other permanent members, since Africa is the only continent which has no representative among the permanent members.
Libya, which announced on the 19th December 2003 that it would voluntarily relinquish all equipment and programmes that may lead to the production of internationally prohibited weapons, aspires, like other countries, to live in a world free from nuclear weapons. It affirms its conviction that the best guarantee against the use of nuclear weapons is their non-production or development, as well as the destruction of their stockpiles, within the framework of international monitoring mechanism.
There is a steady increase in international awareness that international peace and security cannot be achieved through the possession by certain states of nuclear weapons, or through the threat to use such weapons. This goal can only be achieved through the adoption of concrete steps towards the general and complete disarmament of those weapons, in a manner which contributes to their non-proliferation, the cessation of the nuclear arms race, and the consolidation of the principles of peaceful dialogue, mutual understanding, as well as enhancement of fruitful co-operation among states.
Libya welcomes any positive initiatives or steps in the field of nuclear disarmament. Libya is very much concerned about the threat posed by the introduction of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. This situation triggered an arms race in the region that shakes up the security balance and consequently threatening peace and security in the region and in the world at large.
Since 1974, Libya has been among the countries that supported the UN General Assembly resolutions that call upon the parties in the region to consider taking practical steps to ensure that the Middle East region is free of nuclear weapons.
In this respect, we stress that Iran should co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and it’s Director-General. Iran should be more transparent in order to enable the International Atomic Energy Agency to establish the truth about the nature and scope of its nuclear programme. However, we stress as well that all countries, with no exception, should have the right to develop research and production of nuclear power for use in peaceful purpose, e.g. to achieve economic and social development. This should be carried out in conformity with legal obligations of member-states. We therefore stress that Iran, like others, has the right for the peaceful use of nuclear power. We call upon the states that demand the imposition of more sanctions against Iran, to give diplomatic efforts the chance to deliver and place their trust in the International Atomic Energy Agency and it’s Director-General.
The problem referred to as the Palestinian issue started over 62 years ago, and yet, despite the passage of those 62 years it is still urgent and complicated.
At the centre of the so-called Middle East problem is the Palestinian people, who were evicted from their land, rendered homeless and scattered throughout the world. Those among the Palestinian people who remain in Palestine have seen their rights denied, their homes demolished, their identity destroyed and their farms uprooted and razed, and thousands of them are now held in Israeli prisons.
The Arab Peace Initiative, which is now six years old, has been completely ignored by the Israelis. They want to take everything: they want the land, security and peace, and they offer nothing in return. The Israelis reject the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland; they refuse to withdraw from the Golan; they reject a Palestinian State, which, in fact, is impossible to establish because Israel has taken the land and water resources.
With full appreciation for the initiatives, resolutions and plans seeking to resolve what we call the Middle East question, and based on a spirit of coexistence, the leader Muammer Al-Qadhafi has published in the White Book his vision for a true solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. That vision includes the creation of a democratic State in Palestine where everyone lives equally, without discrimination based on religion or race. In that State, violence, confrontation and denial of the other would end.
The White Book, written by our leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi, entitled “Isratine”, describes a time when everybody in Palestine – Arabs and Jews – shall share equally in the land, water, freedom and even the name of the State.
Africa has occupied a central position in Libyan foreign policy for some years. Libya hosted an extraordinary summit of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) in September 1999 and has lobbied intensively to promote the OAU and its successor organisation, the African Union. From February 2009 – February 2010, the Leader held the Chairmanship of the African Union. Libya set up the Organisation of Saharan and Sahelian States (CENSAD) in 1998 to foster regional integration and security co-operation.
The European Union and the African Union held a two-day summit on the 29-30th November 2010 in Tripoli.
At the end of the summit, delegates agreed to an action plan that is meant to bring progress in economic development and reduce poverty in Africa. The plan also addressed the various security challenges faced by the continent. The stated goal: an Africa that is capable of solving its own conflicts, prospers economically and speaks with one voice. Europe also pledged to support Africa in its efforts to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
The delegates also agreed to follow and pay close attention to the transparent and peaceful conduct of the referendum in Southern Sudan to ensure a fair result that would benefit the whole region.
The “Tripoli Declaration” approved at the summit, maintains that Sudan and Somalia are two key areas to focus on for Europe and Africa and that working towards resolving crisis in these two countries will continue.
Illegal immigrants who take Libya as a transit point on their way to Europe are on the rise. This is because of the long Libyan coastline and it’s stretched borders with neighbouring countries which reach 1800 km and 6000 km respectively. This situation makes it difficult for Libya to establish an effective border guard mechanism along its borders, whilst lacking the appropriate high technology and suitable equipment, e.g. helicopter planes, coastal radar systems, fast moving surveillance boats, and night vision telescopes. It is worth noting that the Italian Government took the initiative and provided some assistance and technical equipment that was deemed necessary in the effort to combat this phenomenon. We look forward to the other European countries to follow suit and make their contribution.
The official Libyan perspective regarding this issue is not limited to the security issue, but is much wider and is perceived as a humanitarian and economic problem and should be dealt with within the premise of this comprehensive perspective, which includes creating job opportunities and injecting investment funds in poor countries in a wider global co-operation process.
Since 2004 Libya has been actively involved in finding a solution to the Darfur conflict, and has organised a number of momentous meetings and conferences on the issue. The United Nations and the African Union participated in those events with the aim at finding a comprehensive solution to the Darfur region in Sudan. Libya is encouraging all the parties concerned, including the armed movements in the region, to reach a comprehensive solution through peaceful means away from foreign intervention. Libya has succeeded in the normalisation of relations between Chad and Sudan, which sees it very important for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in that region.
The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is among the countries that fulfil their obligations with respect to human rights and the rule of law. It has accessed and ratified all fundamental human rights conventions.
More than ever, Libya has paid great attention to human rights over the past 30 years. During this period, many fundamental laws ensuring legal and judicial protection of these rights were enacted, the National Commission of Human Rights was established, and many civil society organisations started playing an important role in promoting the culture and standard of human rights which were for the first time introduced in the educational programmes of colleges and law schools. Moreover, the improvement of conditions in prisons is part of an advanced national programme that ensures training of judicial police officers with respect to human rights and adopted plans aimed at integrating and rehabilitating prisoners into society following their release.
More than 700 prisoners accused of having ties to Islamist militant groups have now been released under the National Reconciliation and Social Peace Program. Saif, the son of the Leader, campaigned for their release after they renounced violence.
The death penalty may not be imposed except on persons whose lives endanger or corrupt society. A person who is sentenced to death may seek to have the sentence commuted or to pay a ransom (fidyah) in exchange for his life, provided that the victim’s next of kin agree. The court may substitute the penalty where the legal criteria for a pardon are met, provided that to do so neither harms society nor offends human sensitivities.
Abolition of the death penalty in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is a matter of decision for the People’s Congresses, which are the legislative authority. The question of abolition has been tabled before them on several occasions and they resolved to retain the penalty for reasons relating to Islamic law on the one hand and for social reasons on the other relating to the desire to prevent the phenomenon of revenge. The legislative policy in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya generally seeks to minimize to a great extent the application for the penalty in that many opportunities are provided in the legislation for it not to be applied where the relevant legal criteria are met.
The Libyan Jamahiriya pays great attention to women and children, considering that the woman is the pillar of the family, and that today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens. This consideration stems primarily from the Islamic Sharia which dignifies women, elevates their status and promotes their rights. Libya has ratified all conventions on women’s and children’s rights.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that taking into account the tremendous historical role of the British Parliament in the formation of the country’s foreign policy, we expect from you and your colleagues a better understanding and comprehension of Libya and unrealised potential and benefits of bilateral relations in all fields.
I do believe with your contribution, traditional good ties, both of deep and recent history will be advanced in the nearest future.
Thank you for your kind attention and patience.