#libya Greek FM to Visit Tripoli on Thursday

Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos will be visiting Libya on Thursday, December 20, and will discuss bilateral relations with Libyan officials in Tripoli. Strengthening Greek-Libyan cooperation in various fields including the economy, services, energy and trade will be the focus of his visit. A statement issued by the Greek embassy in Tripoli said Mr. Avramopoulos’ visit “derives from Greece’s determination to do everything in its power to support the Libyan efforts towards reconstruction and political transition towards democracy, in the midst of the changing landscape in the wider region of North Africa.” “A number of Greek enterprises have remained active in Libya despite the recent strife, contributing to the country’s recovery and development. Greece wants to capitalize on the potential for further cooperation and synergies that can benefit the Greek and Libyan peoples, who have longstanding relations of friendship and mutual respect,” it added. Greece is currently facing the worst economic crisis in its history and it is struggling to recover with the help of the EU. On Tuesday, rating agency Standard & Poor's on Tuesday raised Greece's sovereign credit rating to B-minus from selective default, adding that the outlook of Greek economy is now stable. On Monday, Greece received a long-awaited 34.3 billion euro ($45.1 billion) aid tranche as promised by euro-zone leaders and the International Monetary Fund in exchange for Athens proceeding with a series of agreed reforms.