Head of UNSMIL urges Libyan conflicting parties to get past narrow interests for Libya’s sake

“Do not let the agenda be driven by violence on the ground and extremism,” urged Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya and the head of the UN Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL), in a news release Monday.

“Calm must be restored immediately, democratic bodies and ideals must be respected and freedom of speech must be protected,” he added.

Last week, the UN human rights arm (OHCHR) had sounded alarm over the situation and had spoken of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses stemming from recent fighting in the country’s eastern oil crescent area, including summary executions and mass detentions.

Today’s statement by Mr. Kobler also mentioned of violence, hate speech and mutilation of corpses.

“[Such incidents] are completely unacceptable,” underscored the senior UN official, calling on Libyan institutions to commit to advancing the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and swiftly implementing the security arrangements in the capital, Tripoli, that would provide for the withdrawal of armed groups there and the deployment of army and police.

He also made reference to the Quartet meeting on Libya, held on 18 March, which urged the Libyan parties to re-engage in the political process. The Quartet comprises the League of Arab States, the African Union, the European Union as well as the UN.

Recalling the international community’s strong commitment to the country, Mr. Kobler stressed: “The responsibility, however, lies first and foremost with the Libyans themselves to end this escalating violence.”

“All political and security stakeholders in a position to influence their constituencies should act now.”