Libya is located in North Africa, and lies on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia. Area: 1,759,540 km2; Population 6,992,700 inhabitants. Ethnic composition: Arabs and Berbers 97%, others 3%; Religion: 97% of the Islamic faith, 2.7% Christians.

In August 2011, anti-Gaddafi forces took over the capital, Tripoli. In mid-September, the UN General Assembly voted to recognize the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate interim governing body in Libya. On October 23, 2011, TNC officially declared the country’s liberation and Gaddafi’s death. At the forefront of the Transitional Government was the direction of the country towards elections, the formation of a constitution, and a new government. The NTC’s attempts to establish order in the country were unsuccessful. Following elections in July 2012, the transitional government handed over power to the Islamist-dominated National General Congress (GNC). The latter suffered deep losses in the June 2014 elections won by liberal and secular candidates. The winners formed the new parliament called the House of Representatives, but GNC members did not acknowledge their defeat and refused to hand over power. The House of Representatives moved to Tobruk, and Libya began to be governed by two governments, one in Tripoli and the other in the east, in Tobruk, headed by General Haftar. The country became embroiled in a civil war.

In December 2015, with the efforts of the international community, the Skirat (Morocco) agreement was reached, which provided for the establishment of a Government of National Accord. The government, which was stationed in Tripoli, in March 2016. In April 2019 General Haftar launched a military campaign to take Tripoli. In January 2020, under the auspices of Germany, the Berlin Conference on Libya was held, which set out the main directions of the international community’s policy for achieving peace in Libya. After many talks between the main parties to the conflict, as well as talks in the framework of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, which began in September 2020 in Morocco and continued for several months, under the auspices of the UN, an agreement was reached on October 23, 2020. of the armistice between the parties, which followed the formation of an interim government of National Unity that would run the country until December 2021, when the general elections were held, which were postponed. In March 2022, the parliament, which is located in the eastern part of Libya, in Tobruk approved the formation of a new government. Meanwhile, the interim government, which enjoys international support, continues to exercise its functions in Tripoli. This situation threatens to lead again to an east-west division of the country and rekindle the armed conflict. The UN, the EU and the international community, concerned about this situation, are trying to put the parties back on the path of political dialogue, to find a solution accepted by all.

OVERVIEW

The diplomatic relations between the Republic of Albania and Libya were established on May 5, 1970. Since both countries were part of the former Communist Bloc, there has been good relations between them. On May 27, 1980, the Trade Cooperation Agreement was signed in Tripoli.

In the early 1990s, Libya opened its representative office in Tirana, and was represented at Ambassadorial level. Albania has always accredited a non-resident ambassador to Tripoli.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Good relationships, but slowly developed. During the period 1992-2009, the Libyan side has demonstrated its readiness for a wider economic cooperation with Albania, both in the political and economic field.

On March 8-9, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania paid an official visit to Libya, at the head of a delegation, with the participation of a group of businessmen. During this visit, bilateral consultations took place between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries as well as meetings between the chambers of commerce of the two countries. One month later, in April 2008, following a visit to Tripoli, a Libyan delegation paid a visit to Tirana, during which the Protocol of Cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs was signed and meetings were held between representatives of the Chambers of Commerce. of both countries. In March 2007, the Libyan side decided to close its Representation in Tirana, but reopened it in October 2007. There have been several visits of Albanian and Libyan officials, at a lower level, to Tripoli and Tirana, during this period, and signed several agreements between the two countries.

After the overthrow of Gaddafi and the formation of the new Libyan government, efforts were made to reactivate bilateral relations with Libya. In February 2012, the Foreign Minister paid a visit to Libya. But with the destabilization of the political situation in Libya, especially after 2014, when the country became embroiled in a new civil war, there have been no developments in our bilateral relations.