APS : Tuesday, 22 May 2018
ALGIERS- Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt reiterated Monday, at the end of their tripartite ministerial meeting on Libya, the need to implement the United Nations’ Action Plan for the resolution of the Libyan
crisis and create the most favourable conditions to make headway in accordance with the vision of the UN Special Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame, which promised to unveil proposals for a referendum or national elections shortly.
In a final statement ahead of the Algeria-Tunisia-Egypt tripartite meeting chaired by Abdelkader Messahel, in the presence of his Egyptian and Tunisian counterparts Sameh Chokri and Khemais Jhinaoui respectively, the FMs underlined the “need to implement the UN Action Plan.”
They hailed the progress made to that end, calling all Libyan stakeholders to “make further concessions and place the national interest above any other considerations and achieve the national consensus in order to move forward and go beyond the transition period.”
The FMs stressed the need to create the necessary conditions to accelerate the UN Action Plan.
In this connection, they urged Libyan parties to “fully assume their responsibility and to continue, in good faith, the achievement of the process through a broad consensus leading to a comprehensive national reconciliation.”
“Any delay in the resolution of the crisis would result in further escalation, violence, terrorism and conflicts,” warned the FMs, stressing “the importance of contributing to the acceleration of this UN process.”
The three ministers also highlighted the importance of taking into account the contribution of Libyans to all regional and international consultations and efforts to implement the UN process, stressing that “political solution must be Libyan and resulting from a willingness and consensus of all components of Libyan people.”
They also focused on the complementary efforts made by the three countries to support the Libyans so that they “overcome the political deadlock” and thus preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country.
Besides, they reaffirmed “their support to the roadmap for Libya, presented by the UN Envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame and adopted by the Security Council on 10 October 2017″.
UN’s central role emphasized
In this regard, they emphasized “the UN’s central role in implementing the provisions of the Libyan political agreement, signed on 17 December 2015, with a view to ending the Libyan crisis and building strong national institutions, including a unified army and security services whose mission consists in maintaining public order, countering terrorism and setting up effective and unified economic institutions”.
Meanwhile, Salame on Monday called Libyan leaders to advance the political process in order to hold elections in this country as soon as possible.
“The advancement of the political process is so vital,” said Salame while briefing the UN Security Council via teleconference.
“While elections must be held as soon as possible, the proper conditions must be put in place. A new round of voter registration, prior commitment to accept the results, appropriate funds and strong security arrangements are needed,” he stressed.
He promised to convey the proposal for either a referendum or national elections at his next council briefing, banking on the holding of election in 2018.
“The status quo is unacceptable and it is now up to Libyan political players to respect the popular will which favours elections,” he said.
