The Libyan Foreign Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Mohamed Taher Siala, and the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, have discussed the return of the American embassy to Tripoli, an official statement issued Saturday indicated.

It said the meeting took place on Friday as part of the foreign ministry’s efforts to bring foreign embassies back to the Libyan capital.

During the meeting, Mr. Siala said Libya is ready to assist the American embassy make this step a success”.

On Saturday, the American embassy announced its intention to move its headquarters back to Tripoli, “and to acquire a real estate in Tripoli to facilitate long-term American diplomatic relations in Libya”.

The embassy said these efforts come “at a time when intensive preparations are underway for the launch of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunisia”, scheduled for next Monday.

Diplomatic missions and foreign embassies left Tripoli in 2014, following the deterioration of security and clashes between armed groups during which the capital’s airport was burnt.

In recent years with the gradual improvement of security in Tripoli, several embassies, such as those of Algeria and Italy, have returned to the capital and resumed their activities.