New AFRICOM commander pledges diplomatic support in Libya, eradication of terrorist threat
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The new commander of the US military commandment for Africa (AFRICOM), General Stephen Townsend, Tuesday stressed the need for diplomatic solution in Libya and work to eradicate the terrorist threat in the country.
Townsend was speaking at a meeting with the chairman of the Libyan presidential council, Fayez Al-Sarraj, held in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, in the presence of the new US ambassador in Libya, Richard Norland, that focused on the interests of US security in Libya.
These related to the evaluation of the situation, examination of issues related to security environment, and the need to deal with the existing threat of violent extremist organisations as well as the need to resolve the Libyan conflict, said a statement issued by AFRICOM.
"We insisted to Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on the importance to back a diplomatic solution to end the ongoing conflict," said Townsend, quoted by the communiqué issued on the website of the US embassy in Libya.
“To strengthen this point, General Townsend and Mr Norland will later meet with the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ghassan Salam,” said the statement.
The statement added that the AFRICOM chief would discuss the ways and means through which the US army could continue cooperating with the UN to support a political resolution of the Libyan crisis.
"We are committed to engage in an open and transparent dialogue on the problem of urgent security," said Townsend, stressing, "we fully support the efforts made by the United Nations, the US State Department and Libya’s foreign office to promote stability and shared prosperity in Libya".
Speaking on the existing conflict in Libya, Townsend underlined "the importance to see to it that the threat of the violent extremist organisations is under control and does not create further instability in Libya and the region".
"It is important to make sure that violent extremist organisations do not feel they can avail themselves of the circumstances in Libya to create chaos and promote their objectives," he said, adding that "it was a mutual interest domain and a discussion point during our meetings. A closed cooperation is important to face the threat".
AFRICOM continues backing the diplomatic efforts aiming to stabilize the political situation in Libya and to disorganize the terrorist organizations threatening the stability of the region, the statement said.
It stressed that although the AFRICOM staff was not presently in Libya, the commandment continued following the situation in Libya and evaluating the feasibility of a renewable US military presence as soon as the security environment allowed it.
-0- PANA BY/IS/MSA/RA 27Aug2019
