Britain reopens embassy, appoints new ambassador in Tripoli

Hague met NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil British Foreign Secretary William Hague has officially reopened the British Embassy in Tripoli and appointed John Jenkins as the ambassador to the country, according to a statement by the British Foreign Ministry.
Hague met National Transitional Council (NTC) Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil during a visit to Tripoli on Monday. "Today marks a watershed in the United Kingdom's relations with Libya," he said.
Hague added that the move was further recognition of the great progress the NTC has made in stabilizing Libya. "The Libyan people's decisive break with the past means we are now able to open a new era in UK-Libya relations, building on our military, political, diplomatic and humanitarian support to the Libyan people during their revolution," he stated.
The foreign secretary said the UK would help treat some Libyans injured in the conflict. Up to 50 more patients who have suffered traumatic amputations will be offered rehabilitation and prosthetics care.
Libyan health experts will be invited to observe the care so that they can support these patients on their return to Libya and others with similar injuries, he added..
Further support for emergency de-mining activities by the UN Mine Actions Service will be made available so that thousands of people can return to their homes, Hague said. At the NTC's request, UK experts on policing civil society and public financial management are also working in Libya.
"The final requested shipment of Libyan banknotes frozen in the UK will be delivered to Libya, helping the economy to get back on track and provide for the Libyan people," Hague said.
To date, Britain has allocated 20.6 million pounds (32.4 U.S. dollars) to support Libya's rebuilding and up to a further 20 million pounds to support political and economic reform.