EU Member States welcomed on Friday 5 July the establishment of a UN fact-finding mission on the “shocking” attack on the Tajoura detention centre and are “looking forward to its results” (see EUROPE 12288/19, 12289/6).
In a statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, on behalf of the EU, the Twenty-Eight condemn this attack “in the strongest terms”, recalling that all violence against civilians is “unacceptable”.
“We call for an immediate de-escalation and for an end to the fighting and we urge actors to refrain from the systematic use of incitement to violence and promptly return to the UN led mediation process”, EU Member States stress.
The Twenty-Eight remind all Libyan parties and institutions of their responsibility to protect civilians, safeguard civilian infrastructure, allow full humanitarian access and ensure protection for humanitarian workers under International Humanitarian Law. “The EU stands ready to urgently step up collective efforts to address the situation and, in particular, to improve protection and assistance to migrants and refugees”, they warn.
They also call on “all UN Member States to fully respect their obligations to contribute to Libya’s peace and stability, prevent destabilising arms shipments, safeguard Libya's oil resources and protect its infrastructure in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.
The Twenty-Eight also state that they fully support the work of the UN Special Envoy, Ghassan Salamé, calling for the mediation process to be relaunched. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)