Russia says oil produced in Libya is a treasure of all Libyans

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the El Sharara oilfield, Libya December 3, 2014. /Reuters

Russia says that it stands by the January 2020 Berlin resolution that stipulated that "oil produced in Libya is a national treasure of all Libyan people."

The remarks were made at a press conference by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, who was answering to a media question on the situation in the Libyan oil sector.

"Our underlying belief is that oil produced in Libya is a national treasure of all Libyan people. This, in particular, is stipulated in the final document of the International Conference on Libya held in Berlin in January 2020, as well as in UN Security Council Resolution 2510, which endorsed the Berlin Conference conclusions," she said.

"Libyans must manage their natural resources without any outside interference."

Oil production in the North African country has fallen drastically to less than 100,000 barrels a day since January after groups loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar shut down oil facilities in the eastern parts in an attempt to constrict the resources of the UN-backed Government of National Accord.

The two sides have been locked in a power struggle for years, leading to the deaths of thousands of people.

While addressing the UN Security Council in May, Stephanie Williams, the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, said the oil blockade had cost Libya more than $4 billion and was aggravating an already fraught socioeconomic situation.

She urged Council members to come together and apply "consistent and credible pressure" on those regional and international actors that are fuelling the conflict, which has left one million civilians in need of humanitarian assistance.

(With input from agencies)