Brussels, 24/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - During the evening of Wednesday 23 July, the European Union called for “an immediate cessation of hostilities and resumption of political dialogue” in Libya, with the security situation in the country deteriorating. The spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that the ongoing conflict over Tripoli International Airport was “further increasing division and mistrust among Libyans and undermining efforts to establish security and institutional coherence”. The situation is also deteriorating in Benghazi, where Islamist groups have launched attacks, leading to the loss of several lives, against military objectives.
The European Union also called for the swift convening of the Libyan Council of Representatives to begin “the important work of building political consensus amongst the Libyan people, while the essential work of the Constitutional Drafting Assembly continues”. In addition, the EU hailed the announcement of the High National Electoral Commission of the final results of the Council of Representatives elections, Ashton's spokesperson added.
Ashton's spokesperson stated that the “international community remains fully committed to help in finding a solution” to the current situation in Libya. Thus, while the EU foreign affairs ministers discussed this situation on 22 July, on 24 July the European special envoys to Libya were due to meet with Ashton's special envoy, Bernardino Leon, in Brussels (see EUROPE 11127). (CG)