The European Union has removed the speaker of eastern Libya’s House of Representatives from a sanctions blacklist in a boost to peace efforts before virtual European-hosted talks on Monday.
Aguila Saleh no longer faces EU travel bans and asset freezes imposed four years ago, the EU said on Friday. In recent weeks, he has become central to a new effort to agree to a ceasefire and restart talks between the divided administrations of east and west Libya after a year-long offensive by the HoR backed Libyan National Army to capture the capital was repelled.
"The delisting of speaker Saleh was agreed in light of his recent constructive engagement in support of a negotiated political solution to the Libyan crisis
"The delisting of speaker Saleh was agreed in light of his recent constructive engagement in support of a negotiated political solution to the Libyan crisis," an EU statement said.
After months of intransigence by both sides, prime minister of the western Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, Fayez Al Sarraj, announced a ceasefire offer after militias loyal to his administration backed by heavy Turkish support pushed back the LNA offensive to the strategic city of Sirte.
The offer was welcomed by Mr Saleh who made similar commitments to dialogue and both military and political delegations have met in recent weeks in Morocco and Egypt in preparation for wider UN-led negotiations.
With the new momentum, European powers see a chance to reassert their role in Libya – which has been in turmoil since the 2011 fall of Muammar Qaddafi.
The EU has been divided in its backing of opposing sides in the conflict between east and west.
France has expressed support for the LNA’s campaign to remove non-state armed actors and combat extremist groups, and Paris has hit out at Turkey for arming the militias and deploying forces, while Italy has condemned Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter’s men and backs Mr Sarraj.
A force for reconciliation
But the EU now agrees that Mr Saleh is a pivotal figure in the push to bring the two sides of the Libyan conflict together.
The United Nations and Germany are co-chairing a ministerial meeting on Monday bringing together world powers and other countries with interests in Libya’s long-running civil war in hopes of getting traction in the ceasefire talks.
Germany’s Deputy UN Ambassador Gunter Sautter said on Friday that the virtual meeting is “an important follow-up” to a conference of the same parties in Berlin on January 19 that approved a 55-point road map to peace and agreed to respect a much-violated arms embargo, hold off on military support to the warring parties, and push them to reach a full ceasefire.
Stephanie Williams, the top UN official for Libya, warned last month that the conflict-torn North African country is at "a decisive turning point," due to the fighting causing misery to its people being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Sautter said there were “some encouraging developments in Libya” including talks on security, “the long-term agreements on transition, and progress on the question of oil exports.”
He said Germany hopes participants in Monday’s meeting – co-chaired by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas – will renew their commitments to the Berlin road map and its implementation as well as “strengthen the United Nations as a key facilitator of the political dialogue in Libya.”
“We hope that they will call on the parties to accelerate efforts to achieve a ceasefire,” Mr Sautter said. “We hope that continuing blatant violations of the arms embargo will end.”
Before wider talks, the Libyan sides agreed to remove forces blockading oil ports, strangling the country’s main revenue source.
Two weeks in, the Opec member has seen a near three-fold increase in exports now hitting 270,000 barrels per day this week.
Exports are expected to rise even further, bar any new disruptions, with the reopening of the Marsa El Hariga, Brega and Zueitina terminals.
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Pathaan
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Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
