'Morocco supports UN efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis'

Rabat, Morocco (PANA) - The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans living abroad, Nasser Bourita, said on Thursday in Rabat that Morocco supports the UN efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis.

Addressing a press conference at the end of his talks with Stephanie Williams, acting head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said that the visit was an opportunity to express Morocco's full support for the role played by the United Nations in the management of the Libyan issue.

The work carried out by UNSMIL, despite the difficult conditions, has helped to calm the situation and make some progress, Mr. Bourita said, recalling that Morocco continues to see its role in this file under the auspices of the UN.

Morocco has worked in the past within the framework of the Skhirat Agreement with and under the aegis of the UN.

The Kingdom will continue to work with the UN because it believes that a solution to the Libyan crisis can only be found within the framework of the United Nations, he said.

"We have also had the opportunity to observe developments on the ground in Libya," Mr Bourita noted, welcoming some positive developments, such as the 20 August declaration on the ceasefire and demilitarisation of the Sirte and Al Joufrah regions.

This is an important step in the right direction that will help to ease tensions and create the right climate for the political process in Libya, he insisted.

He added that the meeting with Ms. Williams, who is also Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, also served to recall Morocco's position on the Libyan crisis, which can be summed up in three points.

The first is that Morocco believes that the solution can only be Libyan and cannot come from abroad. The solution is in the hands of the Libyans and any external initiative will only make things more complex, the minister noted.

The second point is that the solution can only be peaceful, because military choices have only produced casualties and destruction without contributing to an improvement in the situation, Bourita observed.

The third point is that the solution must be political because the crisis in Libya is primarily political. The issue of legitimacy in Libya must be definitively resolved after a transition period followed by elections, he stressed.

"Morocco has no agenda and no Moroccan solution to this crisis. The Kingdom has only a sincere willingness to help the Libyan brothers to open a debate to find a solution," said Mr. Bourita, recalling that the Kingdom is also ready to support the UN efforts to reach a solution for the Libyans.

Libya's stability will contribute to the stability of North Africa, the Sahel region and the Mediterranean and will help revitalise the Arab Maghreb Union, Mr. Bourita said.

This is why, he continued, Morocco stands at the disposal of the United Nations and Libyans to advance the political process towards a solution.

Mrs. Williams is visiting the Kingdom as part of her consultations with the various Libyan parties as well as regional and international partners with a view to finding a solution to the Libyan crisis.

The Skhirat Peace Agreement on Libya was signed on 17 December 2015 between representatives of the National General Congress and those of the House of Representatives in the Moroccan city of Skhirat.

It provides for the formation of a government announced on 19 January 2016 and composed of thirty-two members.

This government is led by Fayez el-Sarraj, who is also President of the Presidential Council.

The agreement also provides for the establishment of a Presidential Council and a High Council of State.

The two rival Libyan camps have recently separately announced a ceasefire and elections.

In two separate communiqués, Mr. al-Sarraj, head of the Tripoli-based, UN-recognised Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA), and Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the elected parliament, based in the east of the country, announced elections soon and ordered all parties to observe "an immediate ceasefire and a halt to all fighting throughout Libya".

-0- PANA AD/AT/IN/JSG/BBA/MA 28Aug2020