Libyan Foreign Minister denies requesting peacekeeping mission

BY Libyan Express Oct 02, 2018 - 12:34 Updated: Oct 07, 2018 - 17:50

Mohammed Sayala, Libya’s GNA Foreign Minister (Photo: Internet)

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala denied on Monday requesting the transformation of the UN Support Mission in Libya from a special political mission to a peacekeeping mission.

“We see that it is important to turn the UN mission in Libya from a special political mission to a mission to support establishment of security and stability in all Libya,” Sayala said in his address to the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

“This request does not mean at all turning the UN Support Mission in Libya to a peacekeeping mission,” the official Libyan news agency quoted Sayala as saying on Monday.

“The involvement of the UN should be more effective and direct in the Libyan crisis, including the security crisis that is visible to all, and make it a priority in line with political track,” he noted.

“The aim of this request is for the international community to diagnose again the Libyan situation, so as not to separate the political path from the security path,” the Libyan diplomatic chief added.

The UN Support Mission in Libya was established on Sept. 16, 2011 on the basis of a decision of the UN Security Council at the request of Libya.

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