LIBYA

Historical background Until Libya achieved independence in 1951, its history was essentially that of tribes, regions, and cities, and of the empires of which it was a part. Derived from the name by which a single Berber tribe was known to the ancient Egyptians, the name Libya was subsequently applied by the Greeks to most of North Africa and the term Libyan to all of its Berber inhabitants. Although ancient in origin, these names were not used to designate the specific territory of modern Libya and its people until the twentieth century, nor indeed was the whole area formed into a coherent political unit until then.

 Hence, despite the long and distinct histories of its regions, modern Libya must be viewed as a new country still developing national consciousness and institutions.

 Libya was controlled and influenced to various degrees by many diverse empires and nations, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Spaniards, Vandals, and Byzantines. Between the seventh and twentieth centuries, Muslim Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and Italian military forces all made their mark on Libya.

After World War II, Libya-then an Italian colony—was occupied by the allied British and French forces until the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a resolution affirming that Libya should gain its independence before January 1, 1952.

Libya declared its independence as a constitutional, hereditary monarchy under the Sanusi leader Said Muhammad Idris (King Idris I) on December 24, 1951, thus becoming the first country to gain its independence through the UN. In 1959 major oil reserves were discovered in Libya, transforming it into a wealthy country and marking the beginning of anti-Western sentiment. The 1969 Revolution and Qadhafi:

On September 1, 1969, a bloodless, military coup d'état took place, and a new Libyan Arab Republic was declared. Basic information Formal Name:

Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma).

Short Form: Libya. Capital: Tripoli (also known as Tarabulus) Location: Libya is located in North Africa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

 It is bordered on the east by Egypt; on the south by Sudan, Chad, and Niger; and on the west by Algeria and Tunisia.

The area:

 1,759,540 square kilometers Administrative Divisions: According to some sources, Libya is divided into 3 provinces, 20 governorates (shabiyat), and 1,500 administrative communes. Population: 5.900.754 (2006 estimated) Ethnic Groups:

The present population of Libya is composed of several distinct groups.

 Berbers and Arab 97%, Maltese, Armenians and scattered groups of Greeks 3% Languages: The official language is Arabic.

Government policy discourages the use of other languages, but English is used extensively—even by the government for some purposes—and ranks as a second language

. Italian and French also are spoken, and small minorities speak Berber dialects.

 Religion:

 Islam is the official religion, Muslims 97%, Christians and other religions 3% Revolution Day : September 1 Currency: Libyan dinar (LD).

As US$1 equaled LD1.32940 Government and ploitics Overview: In theory, Libya is governed according to the “Third Universal heory,” which Muammar al Qadhafi developed and published in his three-volume work known as the Green Book. In it, Qadhafi presented his unique vision of reconciled socialist and Islamic theories and created a new political system known as “state of the masses,” or Jamahiriya. In reality, Libya is governed by an authoritarian regime ruled by Qadhafi. Constitution: a constitution was issued in 1969 and amended in 1977.

Branches of Government The General People's Congress (GPC) is both an executive and legislative body that convenes several times annually.

 It is the primary formal instrument of government.

 Its membership of more than 1,000 delegates is drawn from subnational-level people's committees, people's congresses, and revolutionary committees.

 The leadership of the GPC is vested in the General Secretariat, which is headed by the secretary general, the official chief of state.

 The national-level General People's Committee performs all cabinet functions. The GPC interacts with the General People's Committee, which comprises the secretaries of about 600 local “basic popular congresses.

” The GPC secretary general appoints the secretaries, and the GPC confirms the appointments.

 Although the secretaries are responsible for the operations of their ministries, it is Qadhafi who exercises real authority, either directly or indirectly. Judicial and Legal System All law in Libya is based on the Koran (sharia).

The court system consists of courts of first instance, courts of appeals, and the final appellate level, the Supreme Court. The General People's Congress (GPC) appoints justices to the Supreme Court. There are also revolutionary courts and military courts, which operate outside the regular court system and which try political offenses and crimes against the state.

 In his desire for international acceptance and economic benefits for his country, Qadhafi allowed Amnesty International into Libya in 2004.

In a gesture of reform, he declared that “emergency laws,” which are enforced by the revolutionary courts and which allow arbitrary arrest without a warrant, would be abolished, adding that “normal criminal law procedure” would be followed.

Foreign Relations Libya traditionally has been a staunch proponent of pan-Arab unity, both in theory and in practice.

Libyan regional policy was predicated on an intractable opposition to Israel and support of the Palestinian cause.

In the 1980s, Qadhafi made a bid for worldwide recognition and Third World leadership by espousing a philosophy known as the “Third Universal Theory,” which rejects both communist and capitalist models of government and calls instead for nonalignment, “people's power,” and “new economic order” based on a more equitable division of wealth between developed and underdeveloped countries.

In accordance with this ideology, Libya pursued an activist and aggressive foreign policy, which included alleged support and sponsorship of numerous terrorist and guerrilla movements throughout the world.

Since 1999, Qadhafi has made a series of shrewd and pragmatic decisions. He admitted civil responsibility for the downing of a civilian aircraft, paid US$27 billion in compensation, and later renounced weapons of mass destruction.

 - Qadhafi worked to improve bilateral relations with some of Libya's close neighbors:

 Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.

- He made efforts to expand Libya's influence in the African world by providing financial aid or granting subsidies to several countries, including Niger and Zimbabwe.

- He facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Darfur refugees in Chad.

- He has been working toward new relations with Europe, especially the European Union's cooperation program for southern Mediterranean countries.

- On March 26, 2005, it was reported that Qadhafi, apparently no longer intractably opposed to Israel, proposed at an Arab summit the idea of a “con-federal arrangement between Israel and Palestine.

” With the gradual lifting of UN and U.S. sanctions and embargoes between 1999 and 2004, and the normalization of Libya's international relations, its economic activity has become revitalized.

As of 2003, Russian defense companies were seeking new contracts with Libya.

 European business delegations have been competing for more than US$14 billion in contracts in Libya's energy, infrastructure, and transportation sectors.

Major International Memberships Libya is a member of the United Nations and several of its specialized agencies—such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization—and numerous other international and regional organizations.

Some of the memberships include the African Development Bank, African Union, Arab Maghreb Union, Arab Monetary Fund, Community of Sahel and Saharan States, Council of Arab Economic Unity, Economic Commission for Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization, Group of 77, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Finance Corporation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Olympic Committee, International Organization for Migration, International Organization for Standardization, International Telecommunication Union, International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, Islamic Development Bank, Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Universal Postal Union, World Customs Organization, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and World Tourism Organization. Economy Overview:

 In 2004 the Libyan government continued to dominate its socialist-oriented economy.

Libya's completely government-controlled oil exports provided about 95 percent of its export earnings, 75 percent of government receipts, and 30 percent of the gross domestic product. According to several 2005 U.S. government reports, a large portion of Libya's income was squandered as a result of widespread corruption and waste.

The government continues to control prices, credit, trade, and foreign exchange, and to restrict imports, thus resulting in very little economic growth, if any, in the private sector.

Agriculture continues to be the second largest economic sector, but Libya imports nearly 80 percent of its food requirements.

 Libyans have experienced a declining standard of living, with high inflation, higher import prices, and even some shortages of foodstuffs.

 With the lifting of sanctions, the Libyan government has announced plans to attract foreign investment, especially in its oil and gas production, and is seeking financing of critical infrastructure improvements in its national highways, railroads, telecommunications networks, and irrigation systems. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$ 48,29 billion (2005) Manpower :

1.5 Million (2005) Inflation: 1% (2005) Non-employment :

 30% (2005) Budget Income: US$ 25,34 billion Imports : US$ 10,82 billion (2005) Exports : US$ 30,79 billion (2005) External Debt: 8% from (GDP) Natural Resources Libya's most important natural resources are its oil and natural gas reserves, which dominate its economy. A 2005 estimate put the country's proven oil reserves at 39 billion barrels and its natural gas reserves at 52 trillion cubic feet. Its other significant resources are natural gas, gypsum, limestone, marine salt, potash, and natron (sodium carbonate).

Transportation Main roads: 24484 Km Pipelines: Libya had 256 kilometers of condensate pipelines, 1947 kilometers of gas pipelines, and 4383 kilometers of oil pipelines.

Industry and Manufacturing Oil and gas exploitation is Libya's main industry and provides approximately 40 percent of the country's domestic income.

Libya's other industries, of varying degrees of importance, include a petrochemical industry, the hub of which is Marsa el Brega, as well as iron and steel and construction. Libya's National Oil Company manages the state-owned oil industry and controls more than half of the oil production, while Oilinvest manages all international investments.

Energy Libya is the fourth largest producer of electricity in Africa and the second largest consumer of power.

It currently has an electric power production capacity of about 4.6 to 4.7 gigawatts (GW). Libya's demand for power is increasing annually by about 6 to 8 percent.

The demand for 2010 is forecast at 5.8 GW, and for 2020 the demand is forecast at 8 GW. Mass Media Although the law provides for freedom of speech “within limits of public interest and principles of the Revolution,” the government strictly limits freedom of speech as well as freedom of the press.

 All print and broadcast media in Libya are state-owned and state-controlled. No privately owned radio or television stations are permitted. More than a dozen weekly and daily newspapers are published, but opinions contrary to the government are not allowed.

Foreign newspapers and magazines are limited in availability and frequently censored, and their distribution is at times prohibited.

Satellite television is widespread, but it is also sometimes censored. The official news agency is Jamahiriyah News Agency (JANA).

The Libyan publications law reserves all rights for publishing to the General Corporation of Press, Professional Unions and Syndicates, and the Ad dar Jamahiriya.

 Internet Users: 205,000 (2005)