Soldecanarias.net / News in English
The ambassador of the United Kingdom (UK) to Libya Caroline Hurndall said her country’s government works with the Government of National Unity as it has been selected consensually under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) to arrange for elections.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Mubasher on Wednesday, Hurndall said the UK’s government also has good relations with Fathi Bashagha who recently made a personal visit to London and maintained positive relations with British politicians when he was an Interior Minister.
«The UK is standing at the same distance from the Libyan rival political parties and aims to help them not to plunge the country into violence. This is despite the fact that the House of Representatives in Libya believes Bashagha’s government is legitimate and must be dealt with as such. Libyans need unity.» She added.
Hurndall said that there are officials and political leaders, including those who still hold political and governmental positions, who committed technical and political mistakes that the people are still paying for to this day.
Regarding the candidacy of Khalifa Haftar and Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi for the presidency, the UK ambassador clarified that because of her diplomatic work, she has to deal with all Libyan political leaders and to invite them to dialogue in order to achieve a common political ground.
«Libyans are the ones who choose their leaders in the end, but it must be acknowledged that Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi was a subject of a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing crimes against humanity. The UK supports the ICC, so it is difficult for Britain and for a large number of countries to deal with Libya if Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi becomes the president.» She added.
The British ambassador denied that her country has ambitions to control Libyan oil fields, saying that the oil trade operations are conducted between British companies and the Libyan National Oil Company on a commercial basis only.
Hurndall said that Libya can be an alternative to Russia in providing European countries with energy and that Russia has succeeded in strengthening its influence in Libya by seeking to control oil fields as a basic entry point for further presence in Africa.
