Foreign
THE German’s foreign ministers involved in the conflict in Libya will meet in Berlin on Wednesday to discuss the further stabilisation of the war-ravaged country.
The one-day conference was hosted by the German Government, the UN is to be attended by the U.S., Russia, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the Libyan transition government.
The goal of the conference just as the first Libya conference in Berlin in January 2020 is to end outside interference in the conflict. This has not succeeded so far.
According to estimates by the UN, some 20,000 foreign mercenaries are stationed in Libya in December 2020, and the figure has not significantly changed. Arms deliveries have also not stopped.
But there was some progress, a ceasefire was established, an interim government set up and parliamentary elections were planned for Dec. 24.
“Just two years ago, Libya threatened to sink into a spiral of chaos and violence,’’ German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said ahead of the talks.
He said concrete improvements had been made; “the ceasefire that was put in place since last October is one of them, as is the formation of the Libyan unity government,’’ Maas said, calling it a cause for hope for the people of Libya.
The U.S. special envoy for Libya, Richard Norland, told reporters this week that “there are negotiations under way with some of the key actors aimed at trying to remove some of the mercenaries, the foreign fighters.’’
Norland said the U.S. also wanted to see a joint military command set up in Libya so that these various Libyan armed elements come under one hat.
The day before the Berlin conference, Libya’s new Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush called for regular meetings at ministerial level as a way to resolve conflict in her country.
Foreign ministers of the states involved in the conflict in Libya should meet regularly in the future, she said in a speech broadcast on Libyan television.
The working group should focus on a vision for a solution to the crisis and on issues related to political, economic and other interests of the Libyan people, the Libyan foreign minister said, without naming the states which should send ministers to join the initiative.
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of Dictator Moamer Gaddafi.
It has become a battleground for rival proxy forces, which has in turn drawn in foreign powers such as Turkey and Syrian mercenaries.
Peace efforts gathered pace after an interim unity government took office in March to lead the country through the December poll.
In another measure touted as a sign of progress, a key road linking Libya’s east and west reopened over the weekend.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh declared the reopening of the coastal road connecting Misrata in western Libya and the Mediterranean city of Sirte, calling the step an “historic day”.
Claudia Gazzini of the think tank Crisis Group warned that the road to long-term peace in Libya was still long, but the conference could bring new dynamism into the process.
“The Libyan parliament and the executive were not able to drive the process forward alone.
“This was why tensions between rival groups had increased again in recent times,’’ Gazzini said.
One of the most pressing issues, according to the expert, is the lacking legal framework for the December elections.
Germany has taken on a mediator role in the Libyan conflict. Wednesday’s talks, in which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will take part, follows up on a major conference held in Berlin in early 2020. (dpa/NAN)
– June 23, 2021 @ 13:49 GMT|
Tags: Removal of foreign fighters in Libya tops agenda at Berlin conference
