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Libyaâ€™s New Government to Re-examine Contracts with Russia

09 March 2012 22:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Russian contracts in Libya signed under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi will be re-examined, Libyan Prime Minister Abd al-Rahim al-Keeb said during his visit to Washington, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

"Are we willing to see Russians in Libya again?.. Yes, probably, if those contracts do not benefit the deposed regime and have no ties with it. Will we extend Russian contracts? Theoretically, yes, but only after we study them and confirm that they are in line with the legislation and are not blemished by corruption,â€ al-Keeb said.

The prime minister added that though Libyaâ€™s new government is willing to attract investors to the country and is committed to honor all previously signed contracts, it is dissatisfied with Russiaâ€™s stance on Libyaâ€™s uprising, which led to Gaddafiâ€™s overthrow and death.

â€œThey had a political program and pursued own goals [in Libya]â€¦ Well, I admit they had the right to do it. Are we satisfied with how Russia acted under those circumstances? With all due respect - no,â€ the Libyan premier said.

Civil war broke out in Libya in February 2011 after protests against the rule of Muammar Gaddafi developed into full-scale insurrection.

The international NATO-led military operation began on March 19 following a UN resolution on "targeted measures" to protect civilians. Russia abstained during the Security Council vote and did not veto the resolution.

A number of leading Russian companies had signed profitable deals with the government of Muammar Gaddafi, including Russian railway monopoly RZD’s contract to build a 550-km high-speed rail link between Sirte and Benghazi.

Russian oil companies Gazprom Neft and Tatneft also worked in Libya, while Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport had a contract to sell weapons to the country.

Russia lost around $4 billion only in military sales to Libya due to the war and the resultant UN sanctions on Tripoli, according to data from Russian arms sales company Rosoboronexport and the Federal Military-Technical Agency.