LOC16:57
13:57 GMT
PARIS, Oct 11 (KUNA) -- France is organising an important business and
industry delegation for a trip to Libya on Wednesday to evaluate potential
participation in the reconstruction of that battle-torn country.
The delegation is headed by Junior Trade Minister Pierre Lellouche who will
be accompanied by representatives of 80 French companies eager to take part in
the reconstruction and development process in Libya.
Sources here said that the 80 companies would include energy, water,
transport, infrastructure, construction and communications companies, among
others.
This is a one-day "solidarity voyage" to help "identify the great needs" of
Libya, needs which "are often urgent," the French Foreign Ministry said.
The French delegation will meet with Libyan authorities "in order to
prepare the reconstruction of the country," a statement said here.
France was at the forefront of political and military efforts in support of
the opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) which is on the verge of
taking full control of Libya and ousting the last remnants of support for
former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Officials here said that it would be up to the French companies and their
Libyan interlocutors to decide on contracts in a commercial framework but
France was eager to establish "a lasting and solid cooperation" with the new
authorities.
Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero again denied rumours
that the NTC and France has already agreed on oil contracts that would give
France 35 percent of Libyan oil.
Valero said that the purported letter publishing this deal "was a fake" and
he urged caution on concluding deals were already signed or agreed. (end)
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