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Russia ready for Libyan NTC visits on economic issues

Xinhua, September 5, 2011

• Russia will maintain its contact with the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya, and is ready to receive their representative for economic talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Sunday.

  "Now the NTC is interested in sending its officials, who are responsible for economic affairs, to Moscow. We confirmed our readiness to hold a meeting," the minister was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

  Economic ties are also a topic of concern for the Russians, who had billions of U.S. dollars worth of energy and infrastructure deals with Libya under Muammar Gaddafi.

  Lavrov said Russia is willing to discuss with the NTC, which Russia recognized as the legitimate government of the northern African country, "the problems they wish to discuss."

  The minister also urged Gaddafi supporters to help the Libyan reconciliation process.

  "The political, ethnic, tribal forces that were represented by the former leaders of the Libyan state must unquestionably participate in the national reconciliation process," Lavrov told a news conference after talks with his visiting Brazilian counterpart Antonio Patriota.

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