Canada has established its first embassy in Tripoli, 23 years after opening diplomatic relations with the North African country, reported a Canadian daily.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley announced the move Thursday, saying it would reinforce trade relations and political dialogue, according to The Star.
The charge d'affaires for the mission is Regina-born George Jacoby, a longtime foreign affairs official and the first Canadian diplomat to live in the Libyan capital.
The Canadian embassy in neighboring Tunisia will remain responsible for Canadian government programs for Libya, the minister said in a news release.
Libya has been under United Nations sanctions since 1992, imposed in an effort to force the surrender of two Libyan nationals suspected in the bombing of a Pan Am passenger jet over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.
The sanctions were suspended in April 1999 after Libya handed over the pair for extradition to the Netherlands for trial.
Canada was among the countries that imposed sanctions in 1986 over terrorism by Libyans in Europe.
Ottawa lifted those sanctions in 1999, but some trade restrictions still apply – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
