Massive rallies, joyful parades, parties and fireworks have put the Libyan capital Tripoli in a party mood since August 31.

This once isolated north African country continued to celebrate its 36th anniversary of the 1969 revolution, also its national day.

Late Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of Libyans of all walks of life gathered in the capital to celebrate, while the country, once isolated from the international community, is reintegrating itself into the mainstream of the world. "Welcome to the party," read a T-shirt worn by a Libyan young man who passed joyfully by the Al Kabir Hotel near Tripoli's landmark Green square, which has been the center for celebrations. The square, sitting along the serene Mediterranean coast, has been turned into a large open air party site with jubilant Libyans singing, dancing and chanting to the music.

Grabbing the opportunity for displaying a new Libya to the outside world, Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi invited up to 100 foreign journalists to cover the celebration.

Libya has undergone quiet but dramatic changes since 2003 when the government announced to abandon programs of developing weapons of mass destruction, paving the way for rapprochement with Western countries. The country then went further to mend ties with major European countries by paying billions of US dollars in compensation to victims of several major blasts blamed on the country, including the downing of two civilian passenger jets (PanAm, UTA).

In response to Libya's goodwill gestures, the European Union decided to lift economic sanctions and an arms embargo on it in September 2004, following a similar US move in which Washington ended most sanctions applied against Tripoli.
In an unusual move, some western oil firms, many of which were forced to quit Libya as a result of the international sanctions, were setting up banners congratulating the Libyan people on the occasion of the revolution anniversary and the national day.

"Congratulate the Libyan people on the 36th anniversary of the Sept. 1 revolution," read one banner signed by an Western oil company at one of the streets leading to the Green Square.

Libya has been a major oil producer in Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The country earned an estimated 18.2 billion dollars from oil exports in 2004, 38 percent up from 2003. For 2005 and 2006, Libya is projected to earn 24 billion dollars and 25 billion dollars respectively from oil exports, according to an OPEC report.

Libya has a total proven oil reserves of 39 billion barrels, according to the Oil and Gas Journal, but the country remains highly unexplored and retains huge potential for more oil discoveries. World oil giants, both from the USA and Europe, are returning after the sanctions were lifted.

"With all the sanctions, we managed to live a good life in the past, and we will live a better life in the future," declared a man in his thirties who identified himself as Osama.

That's true. With a population of some 5 million, Libyans have already enjoyed the highest per capita of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) among African countries. The life of the people are expected to be remarkably improved as the country welcomes foreign investors to tap its lucrative oil fields.

Source: Xinhua

Libya and Sudan drew 0-0 in their Group Three 2006 World Cup qualifier in Tripoli

Libya and Sudan drew 0-0 in their Group Three 2006 World Cup qualifier in Tripoli on 1st September.

The result means that Libya edge closer to their first appearance at the African Cup of Nations finals in more than two decades. Sudan goalkeeper Elmuez Abdalla made several fine saves to keep his side in the game. The result means that Libya, who last made it the Nations Cup finals in 1982, made sure of at least fourth place in the group, which could mean a trip to the finals in Egpyt 2006.

Sudan now have no chance of making it to next year World Cup of Nations Cup finals and are in fifth place in the group with six points from their nine games.

Source: BBC

India's OIL to bid for more exploration blocks in Libya

Set to surpass its production target for 2005-06, India's state-owned Oil India Ltd (OIL) will bid for more exploration blocks in Libya, where it already holds stakes in one block with Indian Oil Corporation.

"We are preparing to jointly bid in October with Indian Oil for the next round of exploration blocks being offered by Libya. We are currently examining data for five of the blocks and will submit our bids by October end," a senior OIL official told.

The second largest oil producer in the country after Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), OIL has most of its activities in the northeast region of the country.
OIL has been striving to expand operations overseas with Indian Oil as its equal partner. In Libya, the OIL consortium has won onland Block No 86 in the Sirte Basin.
With the government plans to divest 10 percent stake in the company having being put on hold, OIL is keen to go ahead with plans for 10 percent public issue (IPO) to enable it to get listed on the stock market like all the other major state-owned oil companies.

"Earlier, the government was planning to divest 10 percent stake in the company, but we understand the proposal has been put on the back burner. So we are prepared to come out with an IPO equivalent to 10 percent of our capital base," the official said.

"We are ready for both disinvestment and IPO. The matter is still to be finalized by the finance ministry," the official said. Getting listed on the stock market holds lure for OIL, as it is keen to "assess its true market capitalization."

During the current year, OIL is hopeful of exceeding its committed production target of 3.30 million tonnes and 2.076 billion cubic meters (BCM) of gas.
"Our current production level has already exceeded the target for the first five months by eight percent and we are likely to achieve a production of 3.45 million tonnes of oil and 2.20 BCM of gas by fiscal end," the official said.
Last year witnessed the company exceed its production target by achieving 3.20 million tonnes oil and 2.009 BCM gas productions.

Quelle: Xinhua

Statement by HRH Prince Mohamed El-Senoussi, the Crown Prince of Libya, on the 36th anniversary of the 1 September 1969 military coup in Libya

"To pave the way for free democratic elections in Libya, the UN must work with the Libyan people and the Libyan opposition to bring back the 1951 Libyan constitution and to put Gaddafi and his regime on trial for crimes against humanity." Statement by HRH Prince Mohamed El-Senoussi, the Crown Prince of Libya, on the 36th anniversary of the 1 September 1969 military coup in Libya.

On 1st September 1969, a military coup led by Gaddafi illegally seized power in Libya. Gaddafi replaced the 1951 Libyan Constitution that had been approved and set by the UN as a key condition of granting Libya independence, with his tyrannical regime. To this day this illegal regime continues to be synonymous with murder, torture, oppression, the imprisonment of thousands of innocent Libyans and the theft of the wealth of a nation.
In recent years this wealth has been stolen and used by Gaddafi to lure foreign companies and governments - not for the good of the Libyan people but solely and entirely to protect and preserve himself and his family in power.

The Libyan people have watched and become disappointed as government after government, previously all insistent that under a new era of ethical foreign policy no deal could ever be made with terrorists and tyrants as everyone in every country has a right to freedom and democracy, allowed themselves to become the new friends of this murderous tyrant. Government after government preferred to stand with a dictator and not with the millions of people whom this dictator continues to oppress.

But the Libyan people are strong with a proud history of fighting for their independence, their freedom and their rights. Contrary to Gaddafi’s claims that there is no opposition to his illegal tyranny, the Libyan opposition has come together and united under their flag of independence with clear objectives – to restore the 1951 Libyan Constitution and so pave the way for democratic elections.

This is now the aim of the vast majority of Libyans - Libyans have been demonstrating in the UK, Holland, Sweden, Germany and today in the USA outside the UN building in NY. Millions are ready to demonstrate against Gaddafi in Libya were they to have the right to do so and not fear for their lives.

Libyans are united inside and outside Libya with a clear message: Gaddafi and his regime must leave and be put on trial for their crimes. Constitutional government must be restored in Libya. Freedom and democracy must rule so that Libyans once again can live in peace and as full and respected members of the international community. In the end the Libyan people will be victorious as their struggle against tyranny is just.

Mohamed El-Senoussi
New York, 1 September 2005