Brussels, 10/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 March, 43 Libyan business people, who were meeting in Brussels with the aid of the EU, United Nations and World Bank, called for the formation of a national unity government.
In a joint statement, the “council of Libyan business people” recommended supporting the national UN-facilitated dialogue in order to attain a national unity government. “We ask all the participants in the dialogue to adhere to a patriotic position with the Libyans by putting our Libya above personal and regional business. We ask the participants to hold discussions to form a national unity government”, they said, stating that the discussions should focus on forming of a political process, finalising the constitution, and a programme to create a “stable and permanent” political situation. They also advocated the “immediate implementation of a country governed by the law and institutions capable of delivering the ambitions of the Libyan people”. The business people also called for a ceasefire and criticised all forms of terrorism and extremism.
The council of Libyan business people has an important role to play to help prevent Libya's imminent collapse and failure, the business people stated, expressing their concern about their country's difficult financial, budgetary and economic situation. They underlined the urgency of a peaceful solution to the current conflict and the importance of a safe and stable environment, without which there can be no sustainable economic development. The business people discussed Libya's economic relaunch and development - including macro-fiscal sustainability, public financial management, private sector development, Islamic finance, local development and self-financing, and public-private partnerships.
The council of business people announced its intention to form a new body that would bring Libyan business people together under the name of “Libyan Union for Libyan business people (ARAL)”. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)