‘Constructive’ UN-British Meeting on Libya

The Libyan crisis has cast a shadow over the official greetings of diplomatic organizations and missions operating in Libya on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

All have expressed hope that security and peace would prevail in the country and that the Eid would be an opportunity to “end the fighting among Libyans.”

Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams met with the UK Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, on Friday to discuss the Libyan crisis.

She said this occasion is an opportunity to end the fighting between rival parties, hoping that “love, tolerance and unity would prevail among Libyan people.”

According to a UNSMIL statement, the meeting was “very constructive.”

Williams expressed her appreciation to “UK’s continuous support to UN efforts to bring an end to Libya’s crisis through an inclusive political solution.”

Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to Libya Alan Bugeja affirmed the EU’s continuous work with its partners to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Libya and resume the political process necessary for the country to move towards peace and reconciliation.

He also greeted Libyans on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, wishing peace would prevail.

“We sympathize with the innocent people who are victims of the ongoing conflict and instability that has hit the country over the past decade.”

In other news, figures from the internationally-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) resumed efforts to maintain the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat in 2015.

The GNA and all its supporters in western Libya adhere to the agreement as a “single and basic reference” for resolving the political dispute, unlike authorities in eastern Libya, where Libyan National Army commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar has recently announced the deal dead.

A GNA politician has defended the agreement.

“We will focus on introducing some amendments to the agreement in line with the political situation in the country and away from any initiative that aims to undermine the country's legitimate authority,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, in reference to the GNA.

His remarks were in light of the recent talks held in Morocco between Speaker of the east-based Libyan parliament Aguila Saleh and Head of the High Council of State Chief Khalid al-Mishri on amending the Skhirat agreement.

According to the official, Saleh didn’t comment negatively on the agreement, but rather on its implementation.