TRIPOLI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Wednesday called on the Netherlands to help Libya "partially" lift the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council since 2011.
Serraj made his remarks during a meeting with Sigrid Kaag, Dutch minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, in the capital Tripoli.
"The Prime Minister stressed the close ties between the two friendly countries, praising the support provided by the Netherlands to the government's programs in several areas, such as empowerment of women and the High Commission of Elections and local governance," the media office of the Prime Minister said in a statement.
The Prime Minister expressed hope for developing this support to include other areas, pointing to the current membership of the Netherlands in the Security Council and the importance of supporting the Libya's demand to enable it to manage its frozen assets to stop its losses.
He requested a partial lifting of the arms embargo to enable specific military sectors to carry out their work, such as the Coast Guards, the Counter-terrorism Force and the Presidential Guards, the statement added.
Serraj also called on Dutch companies to "contribute to support the government's programs to provide employment opportunities for young people through small and medium enterprises."
Kaag welcomed cooperation between the two countries, stressing the legitimacy of Libya's demands to manage its frozen funds and partially lift the arms embargo.
She also revealed that Dutch companies are willing to return to Libya, confirming that her future visit to Libya will include representatives of Dutch companies.
The Dutch minister welcomed Serraj's proposal to hold an international forum in Tripoli for companies and financial and economic institutions of friendly countries.
The UN Security Council has imposed a ban on the sale and supply of arms to Libya since 2011.
Libya is suffering from a security chaos and a political division, with authorities in the east and west of the country.
The deteriorating security situation in Libya forced foreign companies to flee the counties and suspend their projects.