U.N. NEWS!!
UN chief hopeful for Libya,
after Quartet meeting in Tunis
UN chief hopeful for Libya,
after Quartet meeting in Tunis
UN
Photo/Ahmed Gaaloul
Joint press
conference of the Libya Quartet on 31 March, in Tunis. From left to right:
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy; UN chief António Guterres; Ahmad Abulgheit, Arab
League Secretary-General; Moussa Faki, African Union Commission Chairperson;
and Ghassan Salamé, UN Special Representative in Libya.
Secretary-General António Guterres said he is hopeful for a
solution to the eight-year long conflict in Libya, after a high-level meeting
in Tunis, Tunisia, on Saturday with officials from the Arab League, the
European Union and the African Union -- the group known as the 'Libya Quartet.'
"If is there is a word that defines what I think and feel
about Libya today that word is hope. This is a moment of hope for Libya,"
said the UN Secretary-General in a press
conference after the
meeting. "I have hope because I believe that it is possible to have
now a Libyan-led political process aiming at the solution of the Libyan
problems."
The meeting in Tunis included Federica Mogherini, European Union High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ahmad Abulgheit,
Secretary-General of the Arab League, Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African
Union Commission; and Ghassan Salamé, UN Special Representative in Libya.
Announcing that the meeting had led to "intensified forms
of cooperation among our four organizations to work more and more together in
support of a Libyan-led political process," the UN chief said he hoped
"the Libyan leaders will understand the enormous responsibility that they
have, that they will be able to come together in solutions for the future of
Libya, to the benefit of the Libyan people and to the benefit of the whole
region as we all know the impact of Libya in the Sahel and many other parts of
Africa, even in Europe".
He mentioned three key steps for a successful outcome: the
Libyan National Conference to take place in two weeks; the upcoming
conference of peace and reconciliation to take place in Addis Ababa,
headquarters of the African Union; elections "at the right moment for the
country to re-establish a normal political life."
The UN Secretary-General acknowledged that there are
difficulties, but stressed that a window of opportunity has been
created by the recent historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between Libya’s
Prime Minister, Faiez Serraj, and a key rival military leader, the Commander
of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar.
Citing the recent peace deals between Ethiopia and Eritrea, in
South Sudan, in the Central African Republic and elsewhere, Mr. Guterres said
there is a "wind of hope," not only in Libya.
"People are starting to show their leaders that they want
peace." he stated. "It’s not for us to define, because we’re not
Libyans, so the Libyans themselves define the precise definition of the
solution, but we see signs that the [divide in Libya], for the first time has
the possibility to be overcome."
In a tweet,
UN Special Representative Salamé called on the Libyan people “not to waste the
opportunity” of the recommendations adopted during this high-level meeting and
“not to close this window to build a unified, civil, sovereign, capable, fair
state.”
When he briefed the
UN Security Council last
week from Tripoli, he said that the UN mission there, UNSMIL, was working to both
“prevent recent developments and tensions on the ground from escalating”, and “pivot
to stability and a political compact” which would end the country’s crisis.
For most of the period since the 2011 overthrow of former
dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the Mediterranean nation has been contested by
various armed factions, leading to a breakdown of the economy, infrastructure
and security across the country.
The
Quartet meeting and press conference coincided with the kick-off in Libya
of municipal elections in nine municipalities across the country.
UN
Photo/Ahmed Gaaloul
Joint press
conference of the Libya Quartet on 31 March, in Tunis. From left to right:
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy; UN chief António Guterres; Ahmad Abulgheit, Arab
League Secretary-General; Moussa Faki, African Union Commission Chairperson;
and Ghassan Salamé, UN Special Representative in Libya.
Secretary-General António Guterres said he is hopeful for a
solution to the eight-year long conflict in Libya, after a high-level meeting
in Tunis, Tunisia, on Saturday with officials from the Arab League, the
European Union and the African Union -- the group known as the 'Libya Quartet.'
"If is there is a word that defines what I think and feel
about Libya today that word is hope. This is a moment of hope for Libya,"
said the UN Secretary-General in a press
conference after the
meeting. "I have hope because I believe that it is possible to have
now a Libyan-led political process aiming at the solution of the Libyan
problems."
The meeting in Tunis included Federica Mogherini, European Union High
Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ahmad Abulgheit,
Secretary-General of the Arab League, Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African
Union Commission; and Ghassan Salamé, UN Special Representative in Libya.
Announcing that the meeting had led to "intensified forms
of cooperation among our four organizations to work more and more together in
support of a Libyan-led political process," the UN chief said he hoped
"the Libyan leaders will understand the enormous responsibility that they
have, that they will be able to come together in solutions for the future of
Libya, to the benefit of the Libyan people and to the benefit of the whole
region as we all know the impact of Libya in the Sahel and many other parts of
Africa, even in Europe".
He mentioned three key steps for a successful outcome: the
Libyan National Conference to take place in two weeks; the upcoming
conference of peace and reconciliation to take place in Addis Ababa,
headquarters of the African Union; elections "at the right moment for the
country to re-establish a normal political life."
The UN Secretary-General acknowledged that there are
difficulties, but stressed that a window of opportunity has been
created by the recent historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between Libya’s
Prime Minister, Faiez Serraj, and a key rival military leader, the Commander
of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar.
Citing the recent peace deals between Ethiopia and Eritrea, in
South Sudan, in the Central African Republic and elsewhere, Mr. Guterres said
there is a "wind of hope," not only in Libya.
"People are starting to show their leaders that they want
peace." he stated. "It’s not for us to define, because we’re not
Libyans, so the Libyans themselves define the precise definition of the
solution, but we see signs that the [divide in Libya], for the first time has
the possibility to be overcome."
In a tweet,
UN Special Representative Salamé called on the Libyan people “not to waste the
opportunity” of the recommendations adopted during this high-level meeting and
“not to close this window to build a unified, civil, sovereign, capable, fair
state.”
When he briefed the
UN Security Council last
week from Tripoli, he said that the UN mission there, UNSMIL, was working to both
“prevent recent developments and tensions on the ground from escalating”, and “pivot
to stability and a political compact” which would end the country’s crisis.
For most of the period since the 2011 overthrow of former
dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the Mediterranean nation has been contested by
various armed factions, leading to a breakdown of the economy, infrastructure
and security across the country.
The
Quartet meeting and press conference coincided with the kick-off in Libya
of municipal elections in nine municipalities across the country. 
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