NATO urges for halt of fighting in Libya

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, met with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya Ghassan Salamé at NATO headquarters on Monday for talks on the security situation in Libya.

The Secretary General expressed the Alliance’s deep concern over the situation in Libya and stressed that he would continue to urge all parties to end the fighting and join again the political process, as called for by the United Nations.

“The Secretary General further emphasized that the current conflict is increasing the suffering of the Libyan people and putting civilian lives at risk. He made clear that there is no military solution to the situation in Libya.” A NATO statement said.

It added that NATO fully supports the work of the United Nations in Libya, saying NATO will continue to urge all parties in Libya, and all members of the international community, to support the UN-led process.

“The Secretary General stressed that NATO is prepared to help Libya build effective security institutions, including a modern Ministry of Defence and effective security services under the civilian control of the government. This would be done at the request of the Libyan government and only when the security conditions allow it.” The statement reads.

During his visit, Salamé also briefed the North Atlantic Council as all “allies reiterated that there is no military solution to the current crisis in Libya.”