26th December 2015 Tripoli, Libya
Great Expectations
An orphan, Pip lives with a blacksmith in Victorian England. He dreams of becoming a gentleman. Through many ups and downs, he learns lessons about love and friendship, loyalty and injustice, disappointment and happiness. His experiences eventually make him a better and happier person.
This is the theme of Great Expectations, one of the most famous novels by the great Victorian author Charles Dickens.
What has this story got to do with Libya? On the face of it, very little. But the fact is that the signature of the Libya Political Agreement in Skhirat on 17 December has raised Great Expectations.
Expectations that life for the Libyan people will get better. That citizens will be able to enjoy peace and security. That the wealth of the country can be used productively to bring quality of life to all parts of the country: everyday things that are important like jobs, education, health.
This theme can be explored further by looking at some of the best quotations from the characters in the book.
“I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into better shape.” Libya has certainly been bent and broken after 42 years of dictatorship and almost 5 years of turmoil and chaos. The advent of a Government of National Accord offers the prospect of a “better shape”.
The future shape of the economy will be a crucial factor. The country is almost bankrupt and is spending more than it earns. The cost of putting bread on a Libyan family’s table is getting higher. The new government will have to help the National Oil Corporation to rebuild the oil and gas industry and increase production. The Central Bank will then have to ensure that Libyans in all parts of the country feel the benefits of this wealth.
“Ask no questions and you’ll be told no lies.” Libyans should ask lots of questions. And the new government should be open and honest with them. People need to be realistic about their expectations. Rebuilding a country that has been so badly damaged and whose people have suffered so much is no easy task. It will take time to make ordinary people feel better off.
“We need never be ashamed of our tears.” There has been too much cause for tears in the last few years. The hopes raised by the 17 February revolution have been disappointed. Too many Libyans have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. The situation in cities like Benghazi where schools and clinics are unable to operate is a cause for shame.
“Suffering has been stronger than all other teachings.” Libyans have learnt too many lessons the hard way. For example, the spread of Daesh has brought suffering to many parts of Libya. Defeating the terrorists and extremists should be a top priority for the new government.
“There is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt as injustice.” Libyans have had more than enough injustice. Efforts have been made to unite the country in the past but have failed. There is nothing wrong with failure, provided we learn from it.
“I loved her against reason”. Just as Pip in the story continues to love Estella, so Libyans continue to love their country. And they have every reason to do so.
Turning great expectations into long-term happiness is the task of the new government. The Prime Minister and his team need to tackle the challenges and manage people’s expectations.
Satisfying the Libyan people’s great expectations will be a major boost to the government’s popularity; equally failed expectations are a powerful driver of discontent. Communicating the vision and getting the balance right is tough. But rest assured that Libya’s friends stand ready to help.
To each of ( Her , His )
Excellency British Prime Minister Theresa May
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
I hope from the administration OF your office sent a copy to the British Parliament and a copy to the states known as the Commonwealth British Commonwealth of nations
I’m from the state of Cyrenaica in 1949 obtained its independence
Cyrenaica was one of Britain’s allies in World War II against Germany and Italy
Where we participated in the (British Eighth Army)
We inform you pleased to hear the words of Britain’s ambassador in the city of Tobruk cultural capital of Cyrenaica
Our problem is the occupation and the oppression and marginalization of Tripoli on the rights of Cyrenaica
The Tripoli in 1963 breach of agreement in 1951
And continued oppression of more than 1969 to 2011
The truth is that what is known (Revolution February 17) are the people of Cyrenaica revolt against the injustice of the State of Tripoli
And it continued this injustice from Tripoli and Misurata from 2011 to now, after stealing the revolution and the return of racism and Regional
We demand the independence call for disengagement from the Union with Tripoli Cyrenaica and Fezzan
Ask back to the pre-1951
But call for activating the commandment and the protection of the United Kingdom State of Cyrenaica agreement
THI IS MY EMAIL
KEEP SUPPORTING NEW LIBYAN GOVERMNT
Ambassador: Well said. Well written. I lived in the country next door for several years and lived with the downfall of Ben Ali and the start of the Arab Spring. Few in N. America understand that there have been on-going and enduring relationships between the countries bordering the Mediterranean as well as the UK and northern European countries that date back more than 2000 years. Your article relates a western mindset (worldview) and expectation to what Libya may aspire to (which I see no reason not to support as well). Let’s hope and pray the all Libyans may come to a consensus and understand that too.
This year marks the 64th anniversary of Libya’s independence. In 1951, King Idriss came to power to unite what were three distinct areas, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan after the wreckage of fascism in Europe. A former Italian possession, Libya holds the interesting distinction of being the first country to become independent through the UN, in 1951, after a brief period of UN ‘trusteeship’.
Seems history is partially repeating itself in a modern context. Sixty-four years after King Idriss began his reign, the international community, led by the United Nations, established a National Unity Government (NUG) choosing themselves a Prime Minister Faiez Serraj as the leader of Libya.
UN Special Representative Martin Kobler wants to spin this historical link to reinforce the importance of the NUG and to gain a consensus for it. Kobler stated last week “Some of the lessons from the birth of Libya can help us today. Like now, Libya was then faced with the task of creating and uniting behind new common institutions.”
The day after Kobler’s speech, US President Barack Obama sent a message to the Libya people on this 64th anniversary. Obama stated “The United States is fully committed to working with the new Government of National Accord to address the urgent economic and counterterrorism problems facing Libya today. We stand with the Libyan people and fully support your courageous efforts to build a stable, prosperous, and peaceful Libya.”
Sounds like America is ready to back up the NUG at all costs.
Simultaneously, armed force to quell terrorist activity in Libya is still on the table. However the Permanent Libyan Ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Omar Dabbashi, is saying that Libya will not be inviting anytime soon foreign air forces to help but instead wants General Khalifa Haftar’s Libya National Army to receive arms with the immediate lifting of the UN arms embargo on Libya to do the heavy lifting on the ground against violent extremists.
Then there was the UN’s PM Designate Faiez Serraj’s Christmas Day speech that tried to channel King Idriss’s spirit. Serraj argued that “We share a common past, in the resistance of our fathers and grandfathers against colonisation and their long battle for independence and the building of their nation.” He added that the road ahead will be tough: “This battle (for a unity government) is a responsibility shared between all Libyans without exception. Media, civil society, businessmen, politicians, Intellectuals, tribal chiefs, dignitaries and the youth – whom we believe are the foundation of our nation-building, and above all this Government.” Patriotic and inspiring he concluded that it would have Libyan-wide inclusiveness. Sound realistic? It is notable that Serraj, unlike Obama, said zero about the extremist threat.
Unfortunately, Serraj has only 30 days, according to the UN, to get his act together. Serraj is no King Idriss to put it mildly. There are a number of real time challenges in the current Libyan milieu. For one, Serraj needs to assemble and gain buy-in from Libyan stakeholders for a Presidency Council, Cabinet, House of Representatives and State Council. But these participants and patrons hold onto their localisms with a firm grip that are political, religious, and financial. It’s to use the old adage, like herding cats, and his Christmas Day speech did nothing to inspire unity or even a hint of influencing the multitude of Libya’s religo-political spectrum.
Now there are key questions facing Libya and Serraj. Which way does Ibrahim Jidran from Ajdabiya jump on the oil question in Libya’s East? Support the new NUG? Or does Jidran support Hafter who needs financial aid and military provisions? If the latter, then what does Serraj do? What about Libya Dawn? If Dawn fragments now, what will their many militias do? Tear Tripoli apart into Beirut-type fiefdoms as occurred in the 80s? Will Misrata stay with the Tripoli-based Dawn Coalition politically or follow there famously astute business senses? What can the Muslim Brotherhood do if their British backers, who just released the partial findings of the Sir Jenkins Muslim Brotherhood report, decline to continue support? Will the Obama’s love affair with the Muslim Brotherhood ascend? What do former Al Qaeda affiliate members like Abdelhakim Belhadj, Khalid Sharif, Saleh Badi, do? So many imponderables means an imminent reshuffling of the Libyan disorder.
There remains in effect, for the time, being three Libyan Governments and in 30 days, the UN say, a fully formed government will be announced. Will that make it a fourth one? The farce caused mostly by the international community continues.
This year marks the 64th anniversary of Libya’s independence. In 1951, King Idriss came to power to unite what were three distinct areas, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan after the wreckage of fascism in Europe. A former Italian possession, Libya holds the interesting distinction of being the first country to become independent through the UN, in 1951, after a brief period of UN ‘trusteeship’.
Seems history is partially repeating itself in a modern context. Sixty-four years after King Idriss began his reign, the international community, led by the United Nations, established a National Unity Government (NUG) choosing themselves a Prime Minister Faiez Serraj as the leader of Libya.
UN Special Representative Martin Kobler wants to spin this historical link to reinforce the importance of the NUG and to gain a consensus for it. Kobler stated last week “Some of the lessons from the birth of Libya can help us today. Like now, Libya was then faced with the task of creating and uniting behind new common institutions.”
The day after Kobler’s speech, US President Barack Obama sent a message to the Libya people on this 64th anniversary. Obama stated “The United States is fully committed to working with the new Government of National Accord to address the urgent economic and counterterrorism problems facing Libya today. We stand with the Libyan people and fully support your courageous efforts to build a stable, prosperous, and peaceful Libya.”
Sounds like America is ready to back up the NUG at all costs.
Simultaneously, armed force to quell terrorist activity in Libya is still on the table. However the Permanent Libyan Ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Omar Dabbashi, is saying that Libya will not be inviting anytime soon foreign air forces to help but instead wants General Khalifa Haftar’s Libya National Army to receive arms with the immediate lifting of the UN arms embargo on Libya to do the heavy lifting on the ground against violent extremists.
Then there was the UN’s PM Designate Faiez Serraj’s Christmas Day speech that tried to channel King Idriss’s spirit. Serraj argued that “We share a common past, in the resistance of our fathers and grandfathers against colonisation and their long battle for independence and the building of their nation.” He added that the road ahead will be tough: “This battle (for a unity government) is a responsibility shared between all Libyans without exception. Media, civil society, businessmen, politicians, Intellectuals, tribal chiefs, dignitaries and the youth – whom we believe are the foundation of our nation-building, and above all this Government.” Patriotic and inspiring he concluded that it would have Libyan-wide inclusiveness. Sound realistic? It is notable that Serraj, unlike Obama, said zero about the extremist threat.
Unfortunately, Serraj has only 30 days, according to the UN, to get his act together. Serraj is no King Idriss to put it mildly. There are a number of real time challenges in the current Libyan milieu. For one, Serraj needs to assemble and gain buy-in from Libyan stakeholders for a Presidency Council, Cabinet, House of Representatives and State Council. But these participants and patrons hold onto their localisms with a firm grip that are political, religious, and financial. It’s to use the old adage, like herding cats, and his Christmas Day speech did nothing to inspire unity or even a hint of influencing the multitude of Libya’s religo-political spectrum.
Now there are key questions facing Libya and Serraj. Which way does Ibrahim Jidran from Ajdabiya jump on the oil question in Libya’s East? Support the new NUG? Or does Jidran support Hafter who needs financial aid and military provisions? If the latter, then what does Serraj do? What about Libya Dawn? If Dawn fragments now, what will their many militias do? Tear Tripoli apart into Beirut-type fiefdoms as occurred in the 80s? Will Misrata stay with the Tripoli-based Dawn Coalition politically or follow there famously astute business senses? What can the Muslim Brotherhood do if their British backers, who just released the partial findings of the Sir Jenkins Muslim Brotherhood report, decline to continue support? Will the Obama’s love affair with the Muslim Brotherhood ascend? What do former Al Qaeda affiliate members like Abdelhakim Belhadj, Khalid Sharif, Saleh Badi, do? So many imponderables means an imminent reshuffling of the Libyan disorder.
There remains in effect, for the time, being three Libyan Governments and in 30 days, the UN say, a fully formed government will be announced. Will that make it a fourth one? The farce caused mostly by the international community continues.
DURING THE SEVENTIES LIBYA (Tripoli ) WAS VERY ATTRACTIVE COUNTRY BY ALL MEANS CIVILIZATION ,CULTURE PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT AND THERE IS NOT POVERTY, ONLY FEW, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY LIVING WITH ITALIANS AND GREEKS LIKE BROTHERS AND WHEN GADHAFI DISEASE HIS PLAN IN DESTRUCTION OF THIS PEOPLE EVERYTHING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN PEOPLE HAS CHANGED NOT WHO LIVES IN TRIPOLI THEY STILL OK BUT THE OUTSIDER WHO ARE LOYAL TO THE CHAOS WE WISH TO SEE LIBYA AS IT WAS IN THE SEVENTIES AND BETTER WITH YOUR SUPPORT……
Actually for the past years within the dictator regime big company mainly owned by the goverment and almost the workforce are getting salaries from that source with no prodective output, that carried on even after the 17 February with far greater number then before. The goverment must tackle this problem and take it very seriously by finding solution to boost the economy; securing altantive jobs and ways then relying on goverment with no output.