Panafrican News Agency

US experts, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord discuss elimination of militias in Libya

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Experts from the US government and representatives of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) on Friday discussed "concrete measures" to eliminate militias in Libya, which is one of the fundamental problems underlying the conflict in the North African country, the US embassy announced on Saturday.

It is noted that the Libyan Political Agreement, signed in December 2015 in Skhirat, Morocco, includes security arrangements to expel militias and armed groups from cities. But insecurity and the political crisis in the country have served as obstacles to its implementation.

In a statement on its website, the US Embassy in Libya stressed that "the United States appreciates the will of the Government of National Accord to address this issue and will remain closely engaged with all Libyan partners to that they implement measures to dislodge these violent groups".

The statement said that "these talks come at a time when toxic foreign intervention threatens to undermine Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity and degenerate into a broader regional conflict".

On Thursday, the Turkish Parliament adopted a motion authorising the sending of troops to Libya in support of the GNA under Momorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed on 27 November with the Turkish government.

Faced with the presence of Russian, Sudanese and Chadian mercenaries alongside the forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar and the support of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, the military escalation, which has been underway since the military offensive of 4 April, is likely to set Libya ablaze.

In its statement, the US embassy said that "the United States remains convinced that long-term stability can only be achieved by the end of the conflict, the return to political negotiation and the establishment of a unified government capable of ensuring the security and prosperity of the Libyan people and to prevent terrorists from finding refuge in Libya".

It added that "these talks should serve as the basis for future discussions between all Libyan parties on ways to reduce the main drivers of the ongoing Libyan conflict and to support UN-led negotiations".

The Berlin International Conference, scheduled for the second half of January, is intended to declare a ceasefire and restart the political process as a prelude to an agreement between Libyans resolving the crisis.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 4Jan2020