UN chief: All Berlin talks participants committed to Libya ceasefire despite disagreements
The results of the much-anticipated Libya peace conference in Berlin, which was convened in the hope of ending the years-long civil war and chaos in the country, are being announced.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are presenting the results of the intensive talks at a final press conference on Sunday evening.
Guterres told reporters that “all participants today committed to support the ceasefire,” while Merkel announced that the warring sides in Libya’s conflict agreed that an arms embargo is necessary to reach a lasting ceasefire.
Italian PM Giuseppe Conte said Italian was willing to play a leading role in monitoring the Libya peace accord. Italy is “absolutely available to be on the frontline” when it comes to monitoring the peace, he told reporters.
Guterres also said that he was very worried that several of Libya’s oil ports and an oilfield had been shutdown after Khalifa Haftar’s forces shut off production, a move which could badly impact the country’s economy.
Merkel said that only a political solution will work in Libya and continuing military efforts will only prolong the suffering of the Libyan people.
She said the discussion in Berlin “will not solve all of the problems of Libya” but the talks were intended to “give new impetus” to the peace process.
Merkel also said it is crucial that the arms embargo holds so that the truce can hold properly.
Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, both allies of rival PM General Khalifa Haftar, have been providing weapons to the Libyan National Army (LNA), while Turkey has sent military instructors to the forces of Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) while threatening boots on the ground.
The conference in Berlin was tasked with reaching a lasting ceasefire between Prime Minister of the UN-backed Tripoli-based GNA, Fayez al-Sarraj, and Haftar, whose forces have been closing in on Tripoli in recent months.
READ MORE: Putin & Erdogan set stage for Libya peace talks at Berlin meeting (VIDEO)
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
Comments are closed.