Morocco has questioned its exclusion from Sunday’s Berlin conference on Libya.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates stressed: “Morocco has always been at the forefront of international efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis.”
“Rabat played a decisive role in the conclusion of the Skhirat agreements, which are, to date, the only political framework – supported by the Security Council and accepted by all Libyan parties – for the resolution of the crisis in this brotherly Maghreb country,” it read.
“The host country of this conference which is far from the [Maghreb] region and the complexities of the Libyan crisis, cannot transform it into an instrument for the promotion of its national interests,” the statement added in reference to Germany.
“Morocco, for its part, will continue its commitment alongside the Libyan brothers and the countries sincerely interested and concerned, in order to contribute to a solution to the Libyan crisis.”
During a press conference, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said: “Morocco understands neither the criteria nor the motivations behind the choice of countries participating in this meeting.”
He also pointed to the Skhirat agreement as "the only political framework supported by the UN Security Council and accepted by all Libyan parties" for the resolution of the crisis.
Meanwhile, King Mohammed VI received Saturday a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron to underline Morocco’s key role in resolving the Libyan crisis and its efforts in brokering the Skhirat agreement.
Furthermore, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs objected to the exclusion of Libya’s neighbors from the Berlin meeting, stressing Khartoum’s ability to contribute positively to the international efforts to assist Libya in reaching a political solution.
Sunday’s summit agreed that a tentative truce in Tripoli over the past week should be turned into a permanent ceasefire to allow a political process to take place.
A special committee made up of five military officials from the Libyan National Army and Government of National Accord will monitor the truce. Foreign powers active in Libya also committed themselves to uphold an existing UN arms embargo and stop shipping weapons there.
