Libyan parties say 'no alternative' to peace outside UN-sponsored dialogue process

“The parties reiterated their conviction that there can be no alternative to peace in Libya outside this dialogue process, which sets the framework for a comprehensive political settlement that is achieved through consensus,” said a statement issued yesterday by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) at the end of the latest round of talks.

Presiding over the talks, UNSMIL chief and the UN Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, explained to the parties how discussions would proceed on the annexes to the Libyan Political Agreement, as well as on formation of the Government of National Accord.

The parties expressed optimism that the dialogue process was approaching its final stages. In this regard, the statement added, the participation of a number of political party leaders heralded a positive step towards the convergence of the various dialogue tracks, particularly those of the political parties and political activists, as well as municipalities.

“Parties described this as key to enabling representatives from all swathes of the Libyan population to work jointly together in order to expedite a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Libya, as well as ensuring wider buy-in from the Libyan population.”

According to UNSMIL, the parties underscored their determination to conclude the dialogue process as soon as possible, with a target date within the coming three weeks. Finalization of the process would pave the way towards final adoption by the parties of the Libyan Political Agreement, to be followed by its formal endorsement at the beginning of September.

“The different political leaderships present at the talks signalled that they would move to encourage relevant security actors to commence consultations with UNSMIL and provide their inputs on ways of operationalizing the security arrangements outlined in the Libyan Political Agreement,” the statement concluded.

Photo: UNSMIL