Libya must manage its natural resources and the proceeds from their sale independently and without external interference. This is stated in a comment distributed on Monday by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, about the suspension of oil production and exports in Libya.
"Libyans should manage their own natural resources without any external interference. Each of the three historical regions of the country - Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan - is entitled to equal opportunities to receive income from the exploitation of Libya's oil resources. However, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for this, first of all, to resume the coordinated work of national institutions responsible for managing the hydrocarbon sector and the funds received from it," she said.
Zakharova stressed that to do this, first of all, it is necessary to restore the activities of the Libyan national oil corporation and the country's Central Bank, which "must ensure a fair distribution of income from oil and gas exports among all Libyans without any discrimination."
The diplomat pointed out that until recently, revenues from oil exports were accumulated in the Central Bank of Libya, controlled by the Government of National Accord (GNA). "Despite the fact that most of the fields are located in the East of the country, residents of this region were deprived of the opportunity to use the money earned for the sale of hydrocarbons. This abnormal situation eventually provoked the suspension of shipments of Libyan oil for export, " she said.
Oil production at most deposits in the country virtually came to a halt about five months ago. The cessation of raw material production and the closure of oil loading ports in the East of the country, according to the National Oil Corporation (NOC), brought the country losses of more than $6.5 billion.
The Libyan National Army has repeatedly stated that local tribes are behind the blockage of the oil infrastructure, dissatisfied with the fact that all proceeds go to the Central Bank in Tripoli and are spent on supporting both the armed groups operating in Libya and supporting the GNA, and the mercenaries sent by Turkey from Syria.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Artem Geodakyan / TASS
Based on materials from TASS