Brussels, 17/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The meeting of countries from the 5+5 Group (Western Mediterranean), which opened in Madrid on Wednesday 17 September, aims “to mobilise the different international actors and the countries in the region that are directly concerned by the worsening security situation in Libya”, stated a spokesperson from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. France is believed to be the country most “concerned by the worsening security and humanitarian situation” in Libya.
“Our main action aims to mobilise the international community and the United Nations in order to help Libya overcome its current trials and manage to secure its territory and protect its population against the terrorist groups”, the spokesperson stated. The spokesperson added that the response can only come “together - the United Nations, the countries in the region and the European Union. The 5+5 dialogue must not be forgotten, it is a very useful forum”, the spokesperson said.
The objective of the 5+5 meeting - in which countries from the Eastern Mediterranean basin are also associated, plus the EU, the Arab League, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the UN (represented by UN special envoy, Bernardino Leon) - is “to associate the neighbouring states” and “to align the efforts of the international community and the states in the region to stabilise the country and strengthen its security”, according to the spokesperson from French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This will happen through the offer of “aid [to all] the Libyan political actors” and through “bringing them to unite in the face of groups that destabilise the country”.
Leon told media the day before the meeting that Libya is at a “critical time” with an “undermined” political process and a situation that “is being transformed into civil conflict”. He said that he had noted, on returning from a visit to Libya on 8 September, that the Libyans are deeply “disappointed” by their country's democratic transition - and he believed that only an “inclusive dialogue” will enable “the country to be saved from further chaos and violence, and prevented from attracting extremist groups and terrorists”. This message about dialogue is reportedly not really appreciated by the permanent representative of Libya to the UN, Ibrahim Dabbashi, who according to media has said that his government refused to be put on the same footing as the “armed terrorists or illegal groups”. Leon nevertheless believes that “it is the only way to save the country from further chaos and violence, and prevent it attracting extremist groups and terrorists”. He stated that he had “no illusions about the difficulties and challenges to come” (our translation throughout). (FB)