MOSCOW, September 3 (RIA Novosti) - Since the United Nations lifted economic sanctions against Libya in 2003, Russian companies have stepped up activities in the country.
"Russian economic operators have intensified activities on the Libyan market in recent years, above all on its fuel and energy segment," Mikhail Kamynin, Russian foreign ministry spokesman, said. "A number of Russian companies have been registered and opened their representations in Libya, taking part in tenders for prospecting."
Before the UN imposed the sanctions in 1992-1993, Russian-Libyan trade and economic cooperation was estimated at about $1 billion, Kamynin said. For example, Russia helped Libya build its nuclear research center Tajura, two 570- and 1,401-foot-long power lines, a 1,710-foot-long gas pipeline, and bored nearly 130 oil wells.
Kamynin said power engineering, investment, industrial and transport infrastructure were also interesting spheres in terms of bilateral cooperation.
Kamynin said bilateral commodity had remained rather insignificant, although it had trended upward somewhat.
