Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the start of consular services in Libya for Syrian citizens in the city of Benghazi.

In a statement on Facebook on Sunday evening, October 26, the ministry said a technical delegation from the Foreign Ministry will begin work in Benghazi starting today, Monday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., through Saturday, November 1. On the following days, services will be provided from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Services will be provided to Syrians directly without intermediaries, with priority on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for those residing outside Benghazi, according to the statement.

The consular services to be offered by the technical delegation include:

• Extension of expired passports: in person by the applicant or a first-degree relative.
• Issuance of laissez-passer documents (valid for a one-time trip to Syria only): validity 90 days. An official identity document for the holder must be presented (a birth certificate issued by the competent Libyan authorities may be accepted). In-person appearance by the applicant or a first-degree relative is required, along with two recent identical passport photos of the person for whom the document is requested.

The ministry added that over the past 72 hours, the technical delegation has:

• Regularized the status of 22 detainees.
• Extended 20,000 passports.
• Issued 4,100 laissez-passer documents for citizens wishing to return to Syria.
• Completed 1,000 civil status document legalizations.
• Completed the repatriation of two bodies to Syria.

The technical delegation earlier announced the start of issuing laissez-passer documents for citizens wishing to return from Libya to Syria on Wednesday, October 22.

Issuance began on October 23 for three days, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the ministry’s Facebook announcement.

Delegation to Resolve “Pending Files”

The technical delegation began providing certain services to Syrians in Libya on October 18 to enable members of the Syrian community to benefit from fee and penalty waivers.

The delegation told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on October 17 that it would issue and extend laissez-passer documents in Tripoli and Benghazi and follow the technical and administrative steps needed to reopen the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli.

This would allow Syrians in Libya to obtain the consular services they need, especially passport issuance and extensions, as soon as the embassy resumes operations.

The delegation also addressed several pending files between the two countries requiring a fundamental resolution with the Libyan side, adding, “We are confident in both sides’ ability to find appropriate solutions together.”

According to the delegation, the missing persons file is among the most complex, describing it as a “deep wound” for their families. It said the Syrian government will spare no effort to determine their fate in cooperation with Libyan authorities.

The ministry is working with international organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of humanitarian cases among the Syrian community in Libya, with a joint program to be implemented in the coming period.

The delegation concluded by stating that there are no forces belonging to the Syrian state outside national borders, affirming that Libya’s stability and development are decisions for Libyans themselves.

Syrians are missing or detained in Libya in connection with attempts to migrate to Europe or previous participation in military operations alongside local conflict parties.

8,000 Prior Transactions

In August, the technical delegation completed around 8,000 transactions, including passport extensions, issuance of laissez-passer documents for return to Syria, and legalization of official documents for Syrians in Libya.

At the time, the delegation said its visit aimed to regularize the status of the Syrian community there and to open the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli in the first phase, followed by a consulate in Benghazi.

The delegation is also working to secure temporary premises for the mission until the Syrian state takes over the main building and to reactivate the air route between Damascus and Tripoli in the first phase, expressing hope that the first flight from Tripoli to Damascus will launch as soon as possible.

It pointed to a package of proposals to strengthen Syrian-Libyan relations, such as reciprocal visa exemptions, inviting Libyan investors to Damascus, and creating a joint working mechanism between the two countries, in addition to 43 earlier agreements between Syria and Libya.

Meanwhile, the Libyan Embassy in Damascus informed the Foreign Ministry delegation to Libya that the visa system would be activated soon.

The number of Syrians in Libya is estimated at between 30,000 and 50,000, most of whom arrived after the Syrian uprising in 2011, according to unofficial estimates from local relief organizations.