Libya to pay half of debt to Turkish contractors

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Libya has promised to pay the first half of its government debt to Turkish contractors, but demanded more time to make the other half of the payment, visiting Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said.

“As Turkish companies come back to Libya to conduct businesses the payments will be done, but I request Turkish businessmen to see the issue in terms of the long-term benefits of Libya-Turkey relationships,” Zeidan said at a dinner given by Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan in honor of the Libyan prime minister on Feb. 19.

Around 100 Turkish contractors are owed some $20 billion in back payments and compensation for their losses in the Libyan civil war aroused in 2011.

The prime minister reasserted that Libya is aware of the importance of the payments, but as they have other obligatory priorities the entire payment due, which will be given in two parts, requires some patience.

Zeidan invited Turkish businessmen to reinvest in Libya.