United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that a Libya ceasefire deal agreed on Friday was a "fundamental step toward peace and stability" in the country.
"I appeal to all stakeholders and regional actors to respect the provisions of the ceasefire agreement and ensure its implementation without delay," he told reporters in New York on Friday.
Libya's two warring factions signed a "permanent" ceasefire agreement across the country on Friday following five days of talks at the UN in Geneva.
The accord, concluded after talks between military representatives of Fayez al-Sarraj's Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, will be followed by political discussions in Tunisia next month.
Asked by Asharq Al-Awsat what he expected as a first next step, Guterres said: “This agreement has a number of decisions … What is important now is all those aspects are put in place.”
“The parties said that in light of the prevailing positive atmosphere and complete confidence, the 5+5 Joint Military Committee, in conjunction with UNSMIL team, will develop a mechanism to monitor the implementation of this agreement.”
He said the Committee recommends and urges UNSMIL to forward the ceasefire agreement signed by the JMC to the Security Council to adopt a resolution to ensure compliance and implementation of the deal by all internal and external parties.
“So, there is a very clear commitment of the parties to themselves implement the agreement and, at the same time, to ask for the support of the UN in that implementation. But it is a Libyan led process of implementation and of monitoring.”
He also told reporters about “very important decisions in relation to mercenaries leaving the country in the appropriate time framework that is defined, in relation to the future integration of armed groups and militias.”
He mentioned the political dialogue forum set to be held in Tunisia. “I hope that this will be a very important step, making the Libyans come together in finding a way to then move forward with the political process, taking into account the necessary establishment of future institutions in the country that will guarantee peace and stability in Libya.”
“We also are working with the African Union that is preparing, as you know, a large meeting for reconciliation of different entities in Libya,” he added.