Libya to consult with envoy to Athens after snub by Greek foreign minister
TRIPOLI (AA) – Libya on Sunday summoned home its ambassador in Athens for consultation, in response to Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias flouting diplomatic protocol last week by refusing to get off the plane during an aborted visit to the capital Tripoli.
“Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush summoned Ambassador (Hamed Bashir) Al-Mabrouk for consultation to clarify the diplomatic issue caused by Greek minister Dendias on Thursday, Nov. 17,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.
“Foreign Minister Mangoush asked Libya’s Ambassador to Athens to issue a protest note to the Greek authorities to clarify the behavior of Foreign Minister Dendias,” it added.
“Such unconsidered behaviors have repercussions that jeopardize Libya’s confidence and stability, and indirectly invite division in the country,” the statement said.
Dendias was scheduled last Thursday to meet Mohamed Menfi, chairman of the Libyan Presidency Council in Tripoli, and then Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh in eastern Libya.
He refused, however, to disembark from his plane in Tripoli when his Libyan counterpart, Najla Mangoush, came to the airport to greet him. Instead, Dendias flew to Benghazi, eastern Libya, ahead of schedule.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh condemned Dendias’ behavior, saying Tripoli will not allow such practices against Libya.
Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed after four decades in power.
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