TIRANA - The Libyan Ambassador to Albania, Essam F. Ben Galiel told Albanian Daily News in an exclusive interview on Monday that he was pleased that the presidential council members of the government of national accord had managed to break the barrier of worry and fear among Libyans when they arrived in the capital Tripoli announcing a clear message to all that they were determined to carry out their responsibilities to take the homeland and Libyans out of the current crisis.

Speaking of the current political situation in Libya Mr. Ben Galiel pointed out that disputes revolve on the distribution of leading titles between representatives of different regions aiming at controlling the state executive and financial authorities along with an ideological conflict between supporters and opponents of the 17th February revolution.

With regards to the bilateral relations of his country with Albania, the Ambassador declared that he was hopeful that they will develop in the future.

"I expect our bilateral relations will develop in the coming future because there are a number of common interests that the two sides will benefit from… I am looking forward to the support of the Albanian government for my country in this critical and sensitive period,” said Ambassador Ben Galiel in the interview which follows:

- Mr. Ambassador, how do you see the political scene after the arrival of the government of national accord to Tripoli and the challenges facing the government?

-Thank you for giving me the chance to brief on the latest developments in my country.

I can say that the presidential council members of the government of national accord have managed to break the barrier of worry and fear among Libyans when they arrived in the capital Tripoli announcing a clear message to all that they are determined to carry out their responsibilities to take the homeland and Libyans out of the current crises.

All Libyans know the big challenges and the complicated files that are waiting to be solved and we can say that they have made and still doing continuous efforts with disputing and opposing parties in Tripoli and Tubrok to reach acceptable settlements. But frankly speaking the political scene is more complicated and serious for a number of reasons and the most important is a group of hard-liners in the House of  Representatives in Tubrok that refuses to endorse the government  before pledging to protect army leaders and the rights of  the region of “Barga” (eastern part of Libya) demanding specific ministries, which reflects the power struggle and wealth with lack of confidence between parties in implementing the Skhirat political agreement, especially article 8 which states the transfer of all authorities to the presidential council as soon as the agreement is signed. 

-What are the causes behind the complexity of the political crisis not reaching agreement between the parties, especially after the arrival of the Presidential Council of the government of national accord in the capital Tripoli?

-Disputes revolve on the distribution of leading titles between representatives of different regions aiming at controlling the state executive and financial authorities along with an ideological conflict between supporters and opponents of the 17th February revolution.

The clear legal opinion in defending the presidential council of the government of national accord calls to stay away from creating constitutional crisis because the country and the people cannot bear any more crises, because of the following:

1- The constitutional declaration did not mention the new political agreement, adding that the civil war and this political agreement backed by United Nations were not taken into account.

2- The constitutional amendments stated in the constitutional declaration were individual acts of the House of Representatives, whereas the political agreement is based on a consensual will between disputing parties to sign a new political agreement to end the crisis.

3- The House of Representatives and the rest of the institutions originating from the new political agreement including the state supreme council derive itslegitimacy from the new agreement.

4- The House of Representatives has signed on the political agreement and approved it in its session held last January.

So according to that, the role of the House of Representatives now requires approving the government of national accord, which unfortunately is still facing obstacles from the hardliners in the parliament in Tubrok which might force the majority of deputies to endorse the government of national accord in another Libyan city rather than Tubrok.

-Do you think the international support to Libya’s government of national accord will be enough to put an end to the crisis?

-The majority of Libyan people are exhausted from our political, security and economic crisis especially the last two years, after the increasing threat of Daesh “ISIS” groups which took advantage of the division and conflict between Libyans. Our people welcomed the arrival of the presidential council members in Tripoli and strongly supported them.

I expect that the full support of the international community to the presidential council headed by Mr. Serraj will help influence and persuade the opponents especially after the consecutive visits of foreign ministers of Italy, Germany, France, Britain and Algeria to Tripoli, paving the way for their  Embassies to return, including the statements supporting the council: the first from the Islamic organization summit held in Istanbul on 15th of April, and the second from the European Council of foreign and defense ministers held in Luxemburg on 18th of April. It should be added the important cooperation and support granted from our neighboring countries to the government of national accord which is expected to help my country.

-There is a spread danger of Daesh in your country and its threat to neighboring countries and Europe, while summer is approaching fear increases that immigrants’ influx to Europe will start again. How you comment on that?

-Yes, that’s true and to eliminate these dangerous groups who falsely claim representing Islam is the responsibility and duty of Libyans. I am confident that after the government of national accord starts its work, it will focus on uniting the Libyan army forces and efforts supported by all military formations to eliminate these groups and gangs of human trafficking and organized crimes.

Libyans will not accept foreign military intervention in their homeland because it is their own battle for dignity and sovereignty which demands them to carry such responsibility to defeat them.

Mr. Serraj has stressed that clearly during his televised interview last week speaking to the European Union’s foreign and defense ministers in Luxemburg that the council has begun to develop a national plan and strategy to end this cancer by Libyan hands welcoming the assistance of friendly states when needed without any intervention on the Libyan ground.

Concerning the illegal immigration, it is a shameful failure of the international community to solve this historic humanitarian tragedy, admiring the visit of Pope Francis to the refugee camp in the Greek island of Lesbos.

We all have a moral responsibility and the government of national accord is keen to work on a comprehensive program that focuses on the roots of the problem beginning from the borders and neighboring countries not only targeting boats or resettlement of immigrants as Mr. Serraj said.

In this regard, I would like to add that Mr. Ahmed Miteeg deputy head of presidential council, during his visit to Italy last Saturday accompanied by a high level delegation discussed this issue briefly with Mr. Angelino Alfano, the interior minister, and other Italian authorities reaching full understanding on cooperating to solve the immigration crisis.

-How do you evaluate the future bilateral relations and cooperation between your country and Albania after the new government of national accord takes power?

-Unfortunately the difficult circumstances of the crisis with which my country have been faced have prevented us from activating and developing the relations especially with the existence of political struggle of power and legitimacy and lack of political and security stability. We must always be optimistic especially that Libyans have supported this government of national accord after hard and long negotiations and meetings which ended by signing the political agreement on 17/12/2015 in Morocco.

I expect our bilateral relations will develop in the coming future because there are a number of common interests that the two sides will benefit from.

Allow me to say that after the Libyan embassy’s statement on March 31 welcoming the arrival of the presidential council of the government of national accord in Tripoli, supporting their efforts and steps and the full support of the United Nations, the Security Council, the European Union and neighboring countries, I am looking forward to the support of the Albanian government for my country in this critical and sensitive period.