Libya’s al-Menfi praises Palestinian 'steadfastness' in the face of 'oppression'

Mohamed al-Menfi, head of the Tripoli-based Libyan Presidential Council, said that the 81st session of the United Nation's General Assembly takes place as the world goes through a “profound transformation” in the “balance of power” and the “ethics” surrounding its use. In remarks delivered at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, he said a major challenge facing the international community is how to build an international order “in which the rule of law is an equal right, not a privilege of the most powerful”. Menfi lamented the absence of the Palestinian delegation, whose members the US refused visas to attend the assembly. “The plight of the Palestinian people continues to worsen after decades of occupation, repression,” he said. “Yet they remain steadfast in their adherence to their right to life and self-determination.” Menfi pledged Libya’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia, condemning “any targeting that threatens it or endangers Islamic holy sites”, after a strike originating from Iraq hit Riyadh’s East-West Pipeline. “We want strong relations with our Arab surroundings, especially our neighbouring countries,” he continued, adding that Libya seeks relations based on “common interests, mutual respect, non-interference and respect for national sovereignty”.