The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said on Saturday 30 March that the Ghadames National Conference, to be held from 14 to 16 April, could represent “a new beginning for Libyans”.
This conference “can bring the country together, lay the foundations for permanent and unified institutions and pave the way for credible elections”, Ms Mogherini hoped, in a speech at an Arab League summit in Tunis.
The day before, the High Representative had attended the Quartet meeting on Libya with representatives of the Arab League, the United Nations and the African Union. At the end of the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres explained that, at the national conference, Libyans should define solutions to create the conditions for unifying Libyan institutions and advancing outstanding political issues. “I hope that Libyan leaders will understand the enormous responsibility they have”, he said.
The members of the Quartet underlined their willingness to work more closely together and strengthen their efforts to make progress in Libya “in order to ensure the success of the political process”, the UN Secretary General added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)