Libya Joins Comesa as Full Member

By Eddyson Lugangwa Posted 30 August 2006 @ 02:50 pm EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

Tripoli (IBTimes.com) - Libya has completed the process of ratification to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Treaty, thereby gaining to full membership.

The Libyan permanent representative to Comesa, Khalifa Swiex, officially deposited the instrument of ratification/accession to the treaty establishing Comesa on Tuesday.

"The formal depositing of the instrument of ratification/accession to the Comesa treaty by the Great Socialist's People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya completes the process of the country's acceding to full membership of Comesa," the representative said. Libya was admitted as a member of Comesa at the 10th summit of the Comesa Authority in June 2005.

Swiex, who is also Libyan Ambassador to Zambia, said he had always appreciated the activities of Comesa as one of the main building blocks of the African Economic Community and the African Union. Ambassador Swiex also emphasised Libya's commitment to the aims and objectives of Comesa in the attainment of sustainable economic development of the region.

Swiex said with the formal depositing of the instrument, Libya would play an increased active role in all Comesa programmes and activities. And acting Secretary General of Comesa Ambassador Nagla El-Hussainy expressed gratitude to Libya for completing the ratification process. Ambassador El-Hussainy said Comesa looked forward to Libya's participation in all its programmes including the Comesa Free Trade Area and the forthcoming Customs Union that will lead to improved cooperation with other member states.