Libyan govt blames Haftar's faction for failure to conclude comprehensive ceasefire agreement
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) team to the meetings of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee has said that they presented a "practical" proposals to end the fighting in the country, but these were not accepted due to the "intransigence" of the rival Libyan National Army (LNA).
According to General Ahmed Abu Chahma, the proposal was discussed with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) overseeing the negotiations, which made some changes.
In a statement issued on Monday, General Chahma said that the GNA's camp "negotiated for a ceasefire throughout Libyan territory, concerning the disengagement of forces, the return of the displaced and an end to the bloodshed between Libyans".
He said that the LNA led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar insisted that residential areas, where clashes are taking place, should not be demilitarized, saying "we have not approved or signed the proposal submitted (by GNA)".
The first round of talks in Geneva, which began last Monday, was presided over by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the UNSMIL, Ghassan Salamé.
He announced that the two camps had not reached a full agreement on how best to restore normality in the areas of clashes, despite their agreement on the need to speed up the return of the displaced to their homes, particularly in fighting areas.
UNSMIL has proposed 18 February for a new round of negotiations between the two camps, stating that they are aware of the need to continue negotiations in order to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
The work of the Military Committee is one of three avenues on which UNSMIL is working, including the economic and political aspects.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 11Feb2020
