Becoming a Member of the Global Community

Engaging with the International Community

Why it Matters

Since ancient times Libyans were known for welcoming foreign guests across our country. Libyans have taken great pride in their openness, tolerance, and respect for other people and cultures.

Unfortunately, our reputation has suffered through the last few decades. Recalling our culture of openness, it is now essential that we rediscover our societal value of productive engagement with others and reinforce our ability to work with others as a fundamental value of national identity and a cornerstone of our foreign policy approach. While Libya has suffered from four decades of self-imposed isolation due to a confrontational foreign policy agenda, rebuilding cooperative relationships with regional and international partners is essential.

Becoming a Member of the Global Community

Why it Matters

Since the time when zawiyas welcomed foreign guests across our country, Libyans have taken great pride in their openness, tolerance, and respect for other people and cultures. Unfortunately, this reputation suffered under the previous regime. Recalling our culture of openness, it is now essential that we rediscover our societal value of productive engagement with others and reinforce our ability to work with others as a fundamental value of national identity and a cornerstone of our foreign policy approach. While Libya has suffered from four decades of self-imposed isolation due to a confrontational foreign policy agenda, rebuilding cooperative relationships with regional and international partners is essential.

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My Plan for Libya

Reviving Multilateralism

Productive international relationships matter to Libya, and Libya, once again, should matter to the international community. This means that we must reestablish a constructive role in international bodies such as the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference, African Union, and the United Nations. We must forge mutually beneficial diplomatic relationships with neighboring Arab, African, and European countries as well as emerging powers like China and India. Libya should be a leader in North Africa, a reliable partner in Africa, the Arab World, and Europe, and a critical bridge between developed and developing economies in Africa and the Arab World.

Establishing Strong Trade and Investment Relationships

Libya’s historic geographic, economic, and cultural links with Africa, Europe and the Arab World are major strategic assets in establishing strong trade and investment relationships. We have to take action to deepen productive relationships with countries that we have a long history of trade with as well as pursue new bilateral agreements with emerging economies. We must reopen talks to secure a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and accede to the World Trade Organization.

Boosting trade and investment should be a major part of our new approach, but our relationships must go far beyond exports and imports. We need to greatly enhance private sector, academia, arts and culture, and civil society cooperation in key sectors such as higher education, clean technologies, culture, tourism, financial services, public health, food security, transportation, and governance.

Increasing Effectiveness, Coordination, and Transparency of Support

As an emerging democracy, our most critical challenge is building a stable and transparent government based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. Without stabilizing our country, the support we receive from our friends in the international community will have little impact on creating lasting change. We need assistance on development challenges such as policing, public finance, justice, and healthcare reform. However, we must ensure that such support does not interfere with Libya’s democratic process and national sovereignty and is in line with our priorities.

MY RECORD THUS FAR

Support Aref’s Plan for Rejoining the Global Community

Aref Nayed’s plan to reestablish productive international relationships is critical to rejoining the global community. Add your name to support Aref Nayed’s plan to make Libya, once again, matter to the international community.