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Put Libya ahead of ‘narrow interests' says UN envoy

By agency reporter
March 21, 2017

Warning of escalating tension across the North African country due to mobilisation of forces, the worsening security situation in the capital, Tripoli, as well as recent violence in Misrata and Benghazi, the United Nations envoy for Libya yesterday (20 March 2017) called on all parties to unite and to put the country ahead of their “own narrow interests.”

“Do not let the agenda be driven by violence on the ground and extremism,” urged Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya and the head of the UN Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL), in a news release.

“Calm must be restored immediately, democratic bodies and ideals must be respected and freedom of speech must be protected,” he added.

Last week, the UN human rights arm (OHCHR) had sounded an alarm over the situation and had spoken of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses stemming from recent fighting in the country’s eastern oil crescent area, including summary executions and mass detentions.

In his statement,  M. Kobler also mentioned violence, hate speech and mutilation of corpses. “[Such incidents] are completely unacceptable,” said the senior UN official, calling on Libyan institutions to commit to advancing the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and swiftly implementing the security arrangements in the capital, Tripoli, that would provide for the withdrawal of armed groups there and the deployment of army and police.

He also made reference to the Quartet meeting on Libya, held on 18 March, which urged the Libyan parties to re-engage in the political process. The Quartet comprises the League of Arab States, the African Union, and European Union as well as the UN.

Recalling the international community’s strong commitment to the country, Kobler emphasised: “The responsibility, however, lies first and foremost with the Libyans themselves to end this escalating violence.”

He concluded: “All political and security stakeholders in a position to influence their constituencies should act now.”

* Read the Libyan Political Agreement here

* United Nations http://www.un.org/en/index.html

[Ekk/4]

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