Libya

Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU) told Turkey "not to take seriously" a court ruling that suspended an energy exploration deal that the Tripoli government signed with Ankara last year, the Turkish foreign minister said on Thursday.

A decision communicated on Tuesday afternoon by Libya  is nothing less than a "slap" in the face for the government of Abdulhamit Dbeiba, but also of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Greek Foreign Ministry has reiterated Greece's readiness for negotiations with the Libyan government that will emerge after elections are held there on the delimitation of the maritime zones, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

A Libyan court on Monday suspended an energy exploration deal that the Tripoli government signed last year with Turkey, a judiciary source said, pausing an agreement that angered other Mediterranean powers and inflamed Libya's own internal crisis.

US energy giant ExxonMobil, which has partnered with Greece's HELLENiQ Energy (formerly Hellenic Petroleum) in searching for natural gas and oil west and southwest of the Aegean island of Crete, not only is unconcerned about Turkish aggressive rhetoric against Greece but plans to accelerate its timeline for exploratory drilling by a year, Kathimerini understands.

Libya's Tripoli-based prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah signed two deals with Türkiye's defense minister on Oct. 25, building on a 2019 agreement.

A presidential motion demanding the extension of the duration of the Turkish troops in Libya for another 18 months was submitted to the Parliament late on June 13.

Libyan author Mohamed Alnaas became the youngest winner of the prestigious International Prize for Arabic Fiction with his debut novel "Bread on Uncle Milad's Table" on May 22.

Alnaas, 31, will receive $50,000 and funds will also be provided to translate his book into English, organizers said on their website.

A large quantity of bullets was reportedly fired at him, and three ended up in his car.
According to the media, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh passed without injuries.
The attackers have not been caught or identified so far, reports "Sputnik".

Turkey on Nov. 20 brought seven Turkish citizens, who have been held upon baseless allegations for about two years in eastern Libya, as a result of the joint works of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) with the Qatar Intelligence Agency (QSS).