UNSMIL welcomes agreement of GNA, Haftar to resume 5+5 talks

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed Monday the acceptance by the Government of National Accord and Khalifa Haftar’s forces of the resumption of talks on the ceasefire and associated security arrangements based on the draft agreement submitted by UNSMIL to the parties during the Joint Military Commission talks (5 + 5) (JMC) on 23 February 2020.

UNSMIL emphasized that the resumption of dialogue constitutes a response by the parties to the desire and calls of the overwhelming majority of Libyans who long for a return to a safe and dignified life as quickly as possible.

UNSMIL said it hopes that the response of the parties coincides with cessation of hostilities and a reduction in the use of incitement and hate speech in order to reach a solution that restores the standing of the State and its institutions, as well as stability and well-being that the people deserve.

UNSMIL also hoped that all parties, Libyan and international alike, would heed the desire of the Libyans to end the fighting. UNSMIL hopes that the resumption of the JMC talks will be marked by a return to calm and a humanitarian truce to pave the way for a lasting ceasefire agreement; enable the competent authorities to focus on addressing the repercussions and threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate the response of local and international agencies  to urgent humanitarian needs.

UNSMIL called on the parties to empower their representatives in the negotiations to finalize the ceasefire agreement, a large part of which has been agreed upon in the previous two rounds.

In the same context, the Mission called upon the states supportive of the parties to the conflict to respect the conclusions they endorsed at the end of the Berlin Conference, the numerous Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2510 (2020) and those relevant to the UN arms embargo on Libya. UNSMIL also calls on those countries who are fueling the conflict to definitively halt all forms of military support.

The Mission expressed its appreciation to Member States and regional organizations that worked for a successful return to military negotiations and towards a resumption of political negotiations to end the conflict in Libya.

UNSMIL added that it hopes and expects that this support will continue during the upcoming JMC talks to ensure their success.

The Mission said it looks forward to starting the new round of the JMC negotiations via videoconference, in light of current circumstances and hopes that the same professional, serious and responsible spirit that characterized the first and second rounds in Geneva will prevail in these talks.