Tunis Hosts Mediterranean Conference to Support Sustainable Development in Libya

Destroyed and damaged buildings are seen in Sabri, a central Benghazi district, Libya, (File Photo: Reuters)
Destroyed and damaged buildings are seen in Sabri, a central Benghazi district, Libya, (File Photo: Reuters)
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Tunis Hosts Mediterranean Conference to Support Sustainable Development in Libya

Destroyed and damaged buildings are seen in Sabri, a central Benghazi district, Libya, (File Photo: Reuters)
Destroyed and damaged buildings are seen in Sabri, a central Benghazi district, Libya, (File Photo: Reuters)

An international conference on sustainable development in Libya kicked off Monday in the Tunisian capital with the participation of experts from Mediterranean countries, France and Malaysia.

The three-day conference is expected to discuss the importance of the private sector to achieve the goals of sustainable development 2030, a member of the High Commission for Sustainable Development at the Libyan National Planning Council, Yaseen Abu Saryoul, told the Tunisian news agency.

“This conference is the first of its kind, and it discusses the role of the private sector in achieving sustainable development goals in Tunisia and Libya. It also addresses significant topics, such as the importance of applied scientific research, and organizing working sessions between the private sector and the public sector, as well as a forum for young entrepreneurs,” he said.

Abu Saryoul noted that the conference also highlights the role of the private sector in innovative projects, and digital transformation programs through effective communication with experts, academics, and public sector institutions.

The International Mediterranean Conference on the Role of the Private Sector in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Libya was initiated by the Libyan National Planning Council with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

It is attended by experts from the universities of Sebha in Libya and Al Munstir in Tunisia, in addition to a number of ministry representatives and the Libyan Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.

Analysts expect the conference to assist Libya in reconstruction efforts, almost 10 years since the uprising that ousted long-time leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Among other things, the conference will discuss the private sector and sustainable development, the dimensions of sustainable development, the private sector and investment in information networks and communications, the applicable mechanisms of enhancing inter-trade, the legislative reform and finally the investment by the private sector on green energy.



Netanyahu: Israel Retains Right to Resume Gaza Fighting

FILED - 03 March 2020, Israel, Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivers an address. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
FILED - 03 March 2020, Israel, Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivers an address. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
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Netanyahu: Israel Retains Right to Resume Gaza Fighting

FILED - 03 March 2020, Israel, Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivers an address. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
FILED - 03 March 2020, Israel, Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivers an address. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Israel retains the right to resume war in Gaza with US backing should the second stage of the ceasefire prove pointless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.

"If we must return to fighting we will do that in new, forceful ways," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

"President (Donald) Trump and President (Joe) Biden have given full backing to Israel's right to return to combat if Israel concludes that negotiations on Phase B are futile," he said.

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), mediator Qatar announced Saturday, as families of hostages held in Gaza braced for news of loved ones, Palestinians prepared to receive freed detainees and humanitarian groups rushed to set up a surge of aid.
The prime minister had warned earlier that a ceasefire wouldn’t go forward unless Israel received the names of hostages to be released, as had been agreed.

The pause in 15 months of war is a step toward ending the deadliest, most destructive fighting ever between Israel and the Hamas militant group — and comes more than a year after the only other ceasefire achieved. The deal was achieved under joint pressure from Trump and the outgoing administration of President Biden ahead of Monday's inauguration.
The first phase of the ceasefire will last 42 days, and negotiations on the far more difficult second phase are meant to begin just over two weeks in. After those six weeks, Israel’s security Cabinet will decide how to proceed.
Israeli airstrikes continued Saturday, and Gaza's Health Ministry said 23 bodies had been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours.