On Sunday 5 June, the British Embassy Tripoli hosted a Queen’s Birthday Party in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty the Queen is the first monarch to celebrate 70 years of service to the UK and the Commonwealth; during the event, Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Caroline Hurndall raised the Union Flag to reopen formally the British Embassy in Tripoli, closed since 2014; this was also the British Embassy Tripoli’s first Queen’s Birthday Party in eight years. The British Embassy Tripoli planted an olive tree in the Embassy gardens as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.
Her Majesty the Queen has a historic and personal connection to Libya. The Queen’s second ever-state visit was to Tobruk, where she visited the War Cemetery commemorating British and Commonwealth soldiers who fought and died in North Africa in the Second World War. There she met Libya’s former King, Idris, who invested upon Her the Order of Idris the First. This represented an important step in a vibrant and enduring relationship between our two countries.
At the first QBP in Libya since 2014, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya, Caroline Hurndall, formally re-opened the British Embassy in Tripoli, which had been closed since that year. The reopening of the Embassy underlines the UK’s continuing commitment to develop closer cooperation with Libya and to work with Libyans and the UN towards a durable political settlement for Libya.
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya said:
Although the Embassy is based in Tripoli, this is a demonstration of our commitment to the whole of Libya. I am proud that our work touches the lives of Libyans across the whole country.
If Libya is to fulfil her political and economic potential, Libya’s leaders must continue to implement the October Ceasefire Agreement, and work together to pursue compromise and cooperation. The people of Libya deserve this.
A wide range of guests attended – including government officials, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, representatives of other embassies, and members of Libya’s vibrant business and civic communities –to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the reopening of the British Embassy in Tripoli, and the work of the British Embassy throughout Libya.
The British Embassy in Tripoli’s work across Libya includes:
- working with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to in facilitate an inclusive political process
- supporting the High National Election Commission to help prepare Libya for successful elections
- working with the Peaceful Change Initiative to facilitate local level peacebuilding processes across the whole country, including Ajdibaya, Tobruk and Zliten
- supporting Free Fields Foundation and HALO in clearing contaminated areas of explosive remnants of war in Tripoli, Sirte and Benghazi, reducing the impact of conflict on the lives of Libyans
- training and mentoring delivered by UK policing and law enforcement experts to Libyan officers from Benghazi, Sebha, Misrata, and Tripoli, enabling Libyan law enforcement to dismantle terrorist networks
- working with British businesses to access opportunities with partners across Libya in sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to financial services to energy transition
- helping Libyan teachers of English, facilitating access to international learning, and supporting cultural connections through the British Council, enabling Libyans to engage in the world
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British Embassy Tripoli.
