US embassy to Libya calls Al-Bayda-based newly printed banknotes “counterfeit”

The United States embassy announced that it had been formally advised by the Libyan Presidential Council (PC) in a letter dated May 23 that Mr. Ali El Hebri, claiming to act as the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, concluded an agreement with an international firm (in Russia) to print and deliver a large quantity of Libyan dinar banknotes.

The US embassy said that the US concurs with the PC’s view that such banknotes would be “counterfeit” and could undermine confidence in Libya’s currency and the CBL’s ability to manage monetary policy to enable economic recovery.

The United States Embassy in Libya, based in Tunisia, has expressed its strong concern at the reported efforts by certain parties to break into the secure Central Bank of Libya (CBL) facilities, including plans to drill into CBL safes, to circumvent CBL control over Libya’s financial resources.

The US embassy, working with the Government of National Accord and the international community, added that the US aims to ensure that Libya’s wealth is not diverted for any fraudulent or corrupt purposes.