Libya Security Task Force reiterates call for opening coastal road
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Co-Chairs of the Security Working Group (SWG) for Libya has renewed their call on all parties to the conflict to accelerate the implementation of the ceasefire, in particular the opening of the coastal road between Abu Grein and Sirte, 450 km east of Tripoli.
They should also carry out the immediate repatriation of all foreign fighters and mercenaries.
The co-chairs of the SWG - the African Union, France, Italy, Turkey and the United Kingdom and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) - held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the security situation in Libya and ways to support the work of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), according to a statement released by UNSMIL on Saturday.
Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Stephanie Williams, praised the efforts of the 5+5 JMC and the progress made so far in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement .
This includes recent detainee exchanges conducted under JMC supervision, as part of broader confidence-building measures, the resumption of flights to all regions, the full resumption of production and export of oil, as well as unifying and restructure the guards of petroleum installations.
UNSMIL reiterated its call to all parties to adhere to international humanitarian and human rights law, including the protection of civilians, in particular by enabling and facilitating the safe and rapid delivery of aid and humanitarian services to all communities affected by COVID-19.
The statement reiterated the Secretary-General report to the Security Council on 30 December, 2020, in which he proposed arrangements to support the ceasefire, by creating a surveillance component within the framework of UNSMIL.
The Mission reaffirmed that it plans to deploy a number of impartial international observers, unarmed and not in uniform, to supplement the Libyan observers deployed by 5+5 JMC.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General's report stressed that the implementation of the ceasefire agreement must be Libyan-led and Libyan-owned and complement the ongoing efforts of the Commission in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/KND/MA 9Jan2021
