Polish Embassy in Libya relocated to Benghazi

Foreign Ministers Mourad Medelci of Algeria and Radoslaw Sikorski at a press conference following talks in Warsaw, 07.07.2011. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

“This is because we consider the provisional council based in that town as the only credible partner for talks,” he said, adding that Poland’s presidency of the EU Council was also an important factor in taking the decision, as the European Union has already opened its delegation in Benghazi.

After the evacuation of the Polish Embassy from Tripoli in March, the Polish ambassador Wojciech Bozek returned to Warsaw, but according to unofficial reports, he has visited Benghazi several times since.

Mr Sikorski stressed that Poland rules out any prospects for cooperation with Colonal Muammar Gaddafi, adding that Warsaw would like to see the conflict in Libya to be resolved through diplomatic means.

The announcement came Thursday afternoon as Polish Foreign Minister spoke at a press conference after talks in Warsaw with his Algerian counterpart, Mourad Medelci.

The two men signed an agreement on air transport and on the setting up the so-called steering committee which is to promote the development of Polish-Algerian economic relations.

Mr Sikorski said that during its EU presidency Warsaw will enhance the process of fostering the bloc’s relations with Algeria. (mk/jb)

Source: IAR/PAP