‘This terrible situation cannot be allowed to continue’, UN chief tells world leaders at major Libya summit
Speaking at a major, high-level summit on Libya, held in the German capital
Berlin on Sunday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres evoked the
disastrous humanitarian situation faced by thousands of civilians, as
conflict in the North African country grows deeper and more destructive
NEW YORK, United States of America, January 20, 2020/ -- As fight continues between forces loyal to General
Khalifa Haftar, which control large tracts of territory in the country,
and the government in Tripoli, world leaders attended the International
Conference in the hope of finding a political solution.
General Khaftar’s forces have besieged the capital since April, and the
fighting has been fuelled by increasing foreign interference. Whilst the government is backed by the UN, The Libyan National Army of General
Khaftar has support from Russia and some Middle Eastern States.
The human toll, Mr. Guterres told the assembled delegates, has been
severe, with international humanitarian law defied on multiple
occasions: “More than 220 schools in Tripoli are closed, depriving
116,000 children of their basic human right to an education. Migrants
and refugees, trapped in detention centres near the fighting, have also
been affected and continue to suffer in horrendous conditions. This
terrible situation cannot be allowed to continue”.
The Libyan threat to an already unstable region
Reiterating his belief that there is no military solution in Libya, the
UN chief issued a reminder of the dangerous consequences of a full-blown civil war which, he said, could lead to a “humanitarian nightmare”, and leave the country vulnerable to permanent division. A civil war also
risks further destabilizing the entire southern Mediterranean and Sahel
region, exacerbating the threats of terrorism, human trafficking, and
the smuggling of drugs and weapons.
Mr. Guterres welcomed the recent ceasefire between the two sides, and
urged them to “engage in good faith dialogue on political, economic and
military issues in a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned inclusive process”,
which, he affirmed, will be supported by the UN.
“We will stand with the Libyan people as they work to resolve their
differences through discussion and compromise in good faith”, concluded
the Secretary-General, “and chart a way to a more peaceful future”.
Foreign powers vow to stay out of Libyan affairs
After the Conference, Mr. Guterres announced that all the participants
had pledged not to interfere in the conflict, and to respect a UN arms
embargo., and he called on all Libyan parties to take part in a
"Libyan-owned and Libyan-led dialogue", under the auspices of the UN, to pave the way for a political solution to the crisis.
The Secretary-General said in a press conference that a meeting to
discuss the economic reform necessary for the normal governance of Libya will take place in the next two to three weeks.
Play online games for free at games.easybranches.com
Guest Post Services www.easybranches.com/contribute