Panafrican News Agency

UN official tasks countries involved in Libyan conflict to withdraw foreign fighters

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Responsibility for the withdrawal "of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya lies with the countries that were involved in the conflict," Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya, Stephanie Williams, has said.

The UN official has also expressed hope that the international community will commit itself to supporting the efforts of the United Nations and the Libyan parties to move forward the process of resolving the crisis in the country.

The permanent ceasefire agreement signed on 23 January in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations by the members of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission stipulates the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries within three months from the date of signing the agreement.

At a press briefing on Tuesday in Ghadames, southwest Libya, at the end of the 5th session of the Joint Military Commission talks, Ms. Williams recalled that the ceasefire agreement includes a "precise timetable for the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya".

The meeting of the Military Commission, which was held in Ghadames, she said, "discussed the monitoring mechanism and deployment of potential observers in the area concerned."

"What we have now is a sovereign Libyan demand for the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from the country," she emphasised.

The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), added that "now it is the responsibility of the countries involved, who brought the mercenaries to Libya, to comply and respect the Libyan request to withdraw these forces."

Ms. Williams noted that the Joint Military Commission has reiterated its request to the Security Council to adopt a resolution obliging these forces to leave.

"Just as the Libyan parties are fulfilling their responsibilities, we want this level of commitment from the international community," she stressed.

The Libyan Joint Military Commission concluded its meetings in the fifth round of talks on Tuesday, following its first meeting in Libya, with the establishment of a military subcommittee to oversee the return of the forces to their headquarters and the withdrawal of foreign forces from the lines of contact.

The subcommittee will hold its first meeting in Sirte, central Libya, on a date to be specified, in the presence of the 5+5 Commission and UNSMIL.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/AR 4Nov2020