Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis spoke on the phone with his Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush earlier on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said.

Gerapetritis underlined the need to restart Athens-Tripoli relations and to establish direct channels of communication. He also highlighted Greece’s decision to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Libya by assigning a Greek ambassador with credentials to Tripoli.

Both ministers referred to the two peoples’ historic ties, sources said, and agreed to meet in person in New York in the framework of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.