Panafrican News Agency

US envoy to Libya congratulates High-Level Committee on Libya on its meeting on Libyan reconciliation

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The US special envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, has welcomed the holding of a meeting of the African Union's High-Level Committee on Libya to support the political process.

In an article published on Wednesday on the "X" platform, Mr. Norland wrote: "We congratulate the President of the Republic of Congo, Sassou Nguesso, on holding an important meeting of the African Union's High-Level Committee on Libya, with the participation of the Chairman of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, and prominent regional leaders, in order to support the political process and promote national reconciliation in Libya".

The US diplomat saw this meeting as a means of strengthening the efforts of the UN envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, to launch political negotiations with the main parties involved.

He expressed the aspiration of the United States to the national reconciliation conference scheduled for 28 April in Sirte (Centre), stressing that national and local reconciliation was a major focus of American aid as part of its strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability.

It should be noted that the final communiqué of the High-Level Committee on Libya, at the end of its meeting in Brazzaville, called on all external parties to cease and desist from any interference in Libya's internal affairs, stressing that external interference in the Libyan crisis undermined the fundamental interests of the Libyan people and their legitimate aspirations.

The communiqué stressed the urgent need to withdraw all foreign fighters, forces and mercenaries, in accordance with the decisions of the African Union and the relevant international resolutions.

The participants also stressed the urgent need for convergence and integration of the actions of the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States and the international community to avoid duplication of efforts for Libya.

The communiqué welcomed the parties' agreement to hold an inclusive national reconciliation conference on 28 April in the city of Sirte, and the fact that these measures coincide with the launch of the High Commission for National Reconciliation.

The participants called on the African Union Commission to continue to support Libyans to ensure the success of reconciliation in a swift and effective manner, calling on everyone to fully embrace reconciliation efforts in a comprehensive and constructive manner.

The communiqué welcomed the great progress made in Libya leading up to the presidential and parliamentary elections, emphasizing comprehensive national reconciliation, and expressed its support for the unification of national institutions in response to the aspirations of the Libyan people.

The meeting welcomed the efforts of the Presidential Council to adopt a strategic vision of reconciliation based on national ownership.

-0- PANA BY/IS/BBA/RA 7Feb2024