DUBAI: The UAE said on Monday it wants oil production to return in Libya with safeguards in place.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, said the Emirates and its partners want to see the return “as soon as possible” and the safeguards are necessary “to prevent the proceeds fueling further conflict.”

The UAE, alongside its partners, wants to see a return to oil production in Libya as soon as possible, with safeguards in place to prevent the proceeds fuelling further conflict. We continue to work for an immediate ceasefire and return to a political process.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) July 13, 2020

The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Saturday that it would resume oil production and exports after a six-month shutdown, which cost the war-torn country billions in lost revenues.

Libya has been divided since 2015 between areas held by a government in Tripoli, backed by Turkey, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in Benghazi, backed by the UAE, Russia and Egypt.

“We continue to work for an immediate cease-fire and return to a political process,” Gargash said in a tweet.