Presidency Council: handing over Oil Ports to Illegal Entity encroach on mandate and competence of NOC.

Tripoli, 26 June 2018 (Lana) Presidency Council underscored that the announcement made by unauthorized authority to hand over oil ports to illegal and unrecognized entity represent clear attack on National Oil Corporation, the only authorized authority to mange oil installations and ports, mandate and competencies. In statement, the Presidency Council said; 'Such behavior increases tension and does not serve consensus and would not lead to a conciliatory direction, but to the contrary it is conducive to division, and undermines all international and local efforts made over the years towards restoring stability and that such measure is no different to the events witnessed by the oil crescent region recently, for all contribute to squandering of Libyans' livelihood. 'The Presidency Council reaffirms once again, the establish fact that the Tripoli based NOC is the sole legitimate authority responsible for oil management based on mechanisms and laws in force and the revenues of oil sales be transferred to the Central bank of Libya to provide the needs of all Libyans and to be spent to address the crises and manage the affairs of the country in all regions without discrimination' it added. The Presidency Council considered the measure irresponsible behaviour and direct threat to the interests of the Libyan people and its resources and establishes obligations to the Libyan state vis -a-vis international parties and oil companies and detrimental to Libya's reputation. The Presidency Council called on the Security Council and the Sanctions Committee to monitor and halt any illegal sales of oil that may take place because of such acts bases on relevant international resolutions in particular Resolution NO 2362 that condemns all illegal attempts to dispense of Libyan oil in any form by a parallel organization that does not work under the authority of the GNA. It warned those who took the decision and asked them to reverse their stance immediately and repeal all its consequences. =Lana=