New Libyan FM gives first interview to AA

TRIPOLI (A.A) - Reporting by Tugrul Cam - Newly elected Libyan Foreign Minister Ashur Bin Hayal said Friday that their priority was to develop relations with countries that supported the people's struggle against the former regime of Muammar Gadhafi. Following an oath taking ceremony in which he swore by placing his hand on the Holy Quran, Hayal gave his first interview to the Anadolu Agency (AA). I will do my best to solve the problems of Libya. I would like to visit the countries that supported us. Furthermore, we want to re-establish diplomatic ties with other countries, Hayal stressed. -"We support Syrian people"- We support the freedom movements in the Arabic countries, Hayal said as the new Foreign Minister of Libya, a country known to be a part of the "Arab Spring". Our stance on Syria is clear. We support the Syrian people, Hayal noted. I hope that the Syrians would reach their goal soon. The support to Syria grows every day. However, the Syrian people need more support, Hayal underlined. -"We are grateful to Turkey"- In regard to a question on Turkish-Libyan relations, Hayal said that the two countries had excellent relations. We are grateful to Turkey for their support to us in our struggle for freedom. We are aware that Turkey has great investments in Libya, Hayal said. I hope that we can further strengthen our relations with Turkey, Hayal said. I would like to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the shortest time possible. I thank Mr. Davutoglu for his contributions to the Libyan people, Hayal also said. -Arab Spring- The Arab Spring is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, December 18, 2010. To date, revolutions have occurred in Tunisia and Egypt; a civil war in Libya, resulting in the fall of its government; civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen; major protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman; and minor protests in Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Western Sahara.