United Nations
21 Apr 2021, 03:51 GMT+10
The UN and international partners have welcomed significant progress towards advancing an inclusive and comprehensive political solution in Libya
The members of the Libya Quartet - which brings together the UN, the League of Arab States, the African Union and the European Union - met virtually on Tuesday to take stock of the situation in the country.
"After years of senseless violence and suffering, there is a window of opportunity in Libya," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote after the meeting. "We stand with the people of Libya and pledge to work with them to help build a better future."
The UN has been supporting peace efforts in Libya, which descended into chaos and conflict following the overthrow of President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, resulting in the country being divided between the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and the rival Libyan National Army (LNA).
Mediation facilitated by the UN led to an historic ceasefire agreement, signed last October by military representatives from each side, known as the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), paving the way to political dialogue and a roadmap that includes elections in December.
A new interim unity government was sworn in last month.
The Libya Quartet met just days after the UN Security Council passed a resolution endorsing the Secretary-General's proposal to support the ceasefire monitoring mechanism. It calls for teams from the UN's mission in the country, UNSMIL, to work alongside JMC monitors.
Following their meeting, Quartet members issued a joint communique which said they applauded the important outcomes of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), the adoption of the Roadmap for the Preparatory Phase of a Comprehensive Solution, and the smooth transfer of power to the new interim authority.
The Quartet also expressed full support for efforts to implement the LPDF Roadmap and successfully complete Libya's democratic transition. They encouraged the unity government, and other institutions, to uphold their commitment to appoint women in at least 30 per cent of senior positions, and to promote rights-based reconciliation throughout the country.
The partners also welcomed the new leadership's commitment to holding the 24 December elections, and discussed how they could support the process, including through possible deployment of observer missions.
"They emphasized the importance of conducting these elections in a favorable political and security environment so that they are held in an inclusive, transparent and credible manner and where all Libyans commit to respect their results and integrity."
The communique called for stepped up efforts to fully implement the ceasefire agreement, and underlined the importance of the JMC further developing plans "for a robust, credible and effective" ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
"The Quartet condemned the continued violations of the UN arms embargo and emphasized that all external military intervention in Libya is unacceptable," it said.
"They called in this regard for full compliance with the arms embargo and the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from the entirety of Libya's territory in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and in a manner that fully restores Libya's sovereignty and preserves its national unity, independence and territorial integrity."
Get a daily dose of Travel Trade news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Travel Trade.
More InformationREDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government has granted GE Aerospace permission to resume jet engine shipments to China's COMAC, a person...
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): A preliminary investigation into the Air India flight AI171 crash has revealed that just seconds...
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): India's aviation industry is projected to record a net loss in the range of Rs 20-30 billion in the...