France, Germany, Italy, EU call for humanitarian truce in Libya
Paris, France (PANA) – The ministers of foreign affairs of France, Germany, Italy and the senior European Union (EU) representative have called for a humanitarian truce in Libya, deploring the conflict that is continuing to increase the suffering of populations.
‘’As participants in the Berlin process and by reaffirming our commitment to the Berlin conclusions, in this beginning of Ramadan, we want to unite our voices to that of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and his senior acting special representative for Libya, Stéphanie Williams, in their appeal for humanitarian truce in Libya," the European diplomats said in a joint communiqué.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 23 March launched an appeal for ceasefire everywhere in the world to enable governments to focus on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
"The conflict is continuing with the same intensity and developments over the last few weeks," they said, "raises serious concerns, particularly for the Libyan populations, who have been suffering for so long a time.
‘’We call all Libyan actors to imbibe the spirit of Ramadan, to engage in a resumption of discussions on a true ceasefire on the basis of the draft agreement of the military committee of 23 February, in view of political solution to the Libyan conflict and to unite efforts against the common enemy represented by the risk of extension of the pandemic for the interest of all the country."
The situation in Libya has deteriorated with the disappearance of Colonel Mouamar Gaddafi in October 2011 and which doubled in intensity since 4 April with the fighting near Tripoli between the troops of the army loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA), chaired by Fayez Al-Sarraj, and recognized by the international community and the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Marshall Khalifa Haftar, with a death toll of more than 1,000 dead and 128,000 displaced.
The two protagonists are supported by foreign countries who do not respect the arm embargo in Libya imposed by the UN Security Council resolutions.
These supports contribute to the significant escalation of hostilities on the ground.
-0- PANA BM/BEH/MSA/VAO 27April2020
