APS : Wednesday, 25 January 2017
ALGIERS- The importance of the collective fight of Libya’s neighbouring countries and all its partners against terrorism and violent extremism
at borders has been underlined Wednesday in Algiers during a workshop held by the African Centre of Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT).
During the meeting held under the theme “Security situation in Libya and its impact on border security of neighbouring countries,” the Director of Forecasting, Programming and Political Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hamid Boukrif stressed the need to join efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
“It is only by combining our efforts that we can defeat this scourge and strengthen our borders security and make of them spaces for cooperation between our countries and our peoples,” insisted Boukrif.
In this regard, he underlined the impact of security situation in Libya on its neighbouring countries and the threat to global security, adding that “the main challenge is to revive the common approach of the unity of the State and the cohesion of the Libyan people,” with a view to protecting their assets and their aspirations to peace and development.
The Algerian official reaffirmed the “joint commitment to supporting the current government of Libya and the inclusive dialogue between all Libyan parties,” adding that the solution to the Libyan crisis “can only come from Libyans.”
Boukrif said that the formation of a legitimate government of national accord, based in Tripoli, and the legal acts would contribute to “strengthening the authority of the State, its institutions and its policy to ensure the unity and integrity of the country, and build a strong economy serving the interests of Libyan people.”
Solution to Libya crisis must be inter-Libyan
During the two-day workshop, the national representatives of the ACSRT focal points and African experts will examine the security situation in Libya and its impact on borders of neighbouring countries, and means to combat terrorism, which represents a transnational threat, by strengthening border security.
The workshop “will focus on the operational and technical aspects for the collective and effective fight against terrorism and violent extremism,” said ACSRT Director Larry Gbevlo-Lartey Esq.
“All the proposals and recommendations that will be made by ACSRT experts during the workshop will be examined and submitted to political decision-makers,” he added.
For his part, Norwegian Ambassador to Algeria Arne Gjermundsen, whose country is a partner of ACSRT, said that the solution to the crisis in Libya can only come from Libyans themselves,” adding that the “role of Europe and neighbouring countries consists in facilitating the inter-Libyan dialogue to find a political solution to restore peace and security in this country.”
“The Libyan crisis is a major concern for everyone, not only for Libyans and neighbouring countries but also for Europe,” he said.
In this regard, he reiterated his country’s commitment to providing “financial support to the restless efforts of neighbouring countries, especially Algeria as facilitator of inter-Libyan dialogue.”
The works of the two-day workshop will continue behind closed-doors.
The meeting has brought together national representatives of ACSRT focal points of Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Chad, Sudan and Niger, in addition to a senior officer of a border security service of each AU member states.
