France regrets Ghassan Salamé’s resignation
Paris, France (PANA) – France has expressed ‘’its regrets’’ over the resignation of Ghassan Salam, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya, and praised his efforts to bring back peace in the north African nation.
‘’France learnt with regret the announcement of the resignation of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya. Ghassan Salamé, who had carried out his mission with competence and conviction since June 2017. We praised his efforts towards ceasefire and the launching of inter-Libyan political dialogue under the aegis of the United-Nations," said Agnès von der Mühll, Communication and Media director and spokesperson for the French foreign affairs ministry.
Ghassan Salamé, 69 years and former Lebanese minister of Culture and Special Representative as well as chief of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) resigned on Monday after more than two and half years of service, citing health reasons.
The former UN mediator for Libya explained his decision on his personal Tweeter account: “I must admit that my health no longer enables me to be subjected to so much pressure, I therefore called the UN Secretary-General to relieve me of my duties."
The spokesperson for the French foreign affairs ministry said that France ‘’wishes that this dynamic officer continues and calls all actors to engage for lasting ceasefire, a better management of resources and representative and inclusive political dialogue’’.
The situation in Libya has gradually deteriorated since the death of Colonel Mouammar Kaddafi and since April 4 with the fighting that broke out near Tripoli between troops 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 and 128,000 displaced.
-0- PANA BM/BEH/MSA/VAO 4March2020
