Brussels, 20/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 15 August, European foreign ministers called on all the different parties involved in the hostilities in Libya, “to immediately cease all violence and to end the suffering of the civilian population”. They also condemned the increasing levels of violence in cities such as Tripoli and Benghazi.
Since the appeal was made, the Libyan capital was subject to air raids on 18 August. Forces loyal to the rebel general Khalifa Haftar have claimed responsibility for these raids, and different militia forces have been clashing in Tripoli for more than a month now.
Ministers said that they were extremely concerned by the threats these clashes posed to the security of the region and the EU.
The Council emphasised that the role of the elected Libyan parliament, which met for the time on 4 August, was to create the political dynamic necessary for a global political agreement that included all the different political actors. It encourages members to carry out their mandate in a spirit of openness and moderation in the general interest of the country. On 4 August, the spokesperson for High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton also welcomed the first meeting of the House of Representatives, which it considered as a very important stage in Libya's democratic transition towards restoring law and order in the country. Ministers called on all the different parties to give their support to the parliament.
The European Union pointed out that it was supporting the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to achieve an immediate ceasefire and to end the bloodshed, and welcomes its partial return to Tripoli facilitated by Italy. Ministers said that, “the EU urges all sides to respond positively and without delay” to the efforts being made in this connection.
The EU welcomed the nomination of Bernardino León, EU Special Envoy for Libya, to the post of UN Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya. “The EU sees the appointment of Mr León as an acknowledgement of the EU's engagement” and recalls, in this regard, the different support programmes to the Libyan people, including the EUBAM mission. (CG)