Australia–Libya relations are the bilateral relations between Australia and Libya. The two countries are members of the United Nations.
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History
editBoth countries established diplomatic relations on 4 January 1978.[1]
Australia and Libya announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on 4 January 1978.[2] A Libyan People's Bureau was opened in Canberra and the Australian ambassador to Italy was accredited on a non-resident basis. Concerns about Libyan destabilising activities in the Pacific region, part of a broader sponsorship by Muammar Gaddafi of such activities around the world, led to the expulsion of the Bureau in Canberra in 1987.[3][4]
As part of the thawing of relations between Libya and Western nations following Gaddafi's post 9-11 policy u-turns, diplomatic relations were restored in 2002, the Libyan People's Bureau reopened in Canberra and the Australian ambassador in Rome resumed non-resident accreditation. This has remained the case, though with the Bureau's name reverting to embassy following the overthrow of Gaddafi.
Australia was a major non-military backer of the revolutionaries during the Libyan Civil War, sending more humanitarian aid to Libya than any other single country after the United States.[5][6] It was relatively early to recognise the NTC, doing so on 9 June 2011, months before the capture of Tripoli.[7][8]
In December 2011 Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd traveled to Libya to meet with Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib. Rudd ceremonially hoisted the flag of Australia at his country's consul-general in Tripoli and pledged Canberra's support for efforts to remove unexploded landmines in Libya, as well as advice on Libya's planned transition to democratic governance.[9]
Resident diplomatic missions
editReferences
edit- ^ "Diplomatic and Consular Relations: Diplomatic and Consular Relations" [1980] AUYrBkIntLaw 19; (1978–1980) 8 Australian Year Book of International Law 392". Australian Year Book of International Law. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ *Relations with Libya* Australian Foreign Affairs Record Vol. 49 No. 1 January 1978, page 51. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ *Prime Minister's Media Statement 19 May 1987* Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 14 February 2022
- ^ *Libya: Military activities in the South Pacific. Australian Foreign Affairs Record Vol. 58 No. 5 (May 1987) page 270. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Australia Supports the New Libya at International Conference". Australian Minister of Trade. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
- ^ Willingham, Richard (28 April 2011). "Australia Funding Libyan Evacuation Ship, Reveals Rudd". The Age. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ "Australia's FM says Libyan opposition NTC only representative of Libya". Xinhua. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Oakes, Dan (10 June 2011). "Canberra backs new Libya". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ^ Pollard, Ruth (10 December 2011). "Australia extends a helping hand to Libya". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2012.