ALGIERS – The work of the ministerial meeting of the neighboring countries of Libya began, Monday in Algiers, with the objective of helping the Libyans to complete the process of national reconciliation through, in particular the holding, on time, of the general elections scheduled for December 24, 2021.
The Foreign Ministers of Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Chad, Sudan and the Republic of Congo participate in this meeting chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the national community abroad, Ramtane Lamamra.
The list of participants also includes representatives of three international and regional organizations, including the SG of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the African Union Commissioner for political Affairs , peace and security, Bankole Adeoye, and the UN SG’s special envoy for Libya, Jan Kubis.
Mr. Lamamra’s speech will be followed by a briefing by the head of Libyan diplomacy, Najla Al-Manqoush on preparations for the elections, expected in December.
The UN envoy is expected to make a presentation on recent developments in Libya and the process of implementing the recommendations of the Berlin Conference 2.
The closed-door meeting will discuss a roadmap for the holding of the next elections to end the transition period in this country, while disagreements persist between the Libyan belligerents on the legal basis that should frame the organization of these elections.
“It is a question of a road map, and we are in Algeria to review the situation in Libya and the possibility of helping the Libyan brothers, “said Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi on Sunday in Algiers after his meeting with Mr. Lamamra.
During a press conference in Algiers, the head of Algerian diplomacy deemed “essential” that the countries bordering Libya can meet to help the Libyans complete the political process of national reconciliation conducted under the aegis of the United Nations.
Lamamra reaffirmed that the resolution of the Libyan crisis must emanate from the Libyans, stressing the urgency to “put an end to external interference, the influx of arms and to assure the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries”.
Last June, the participants in the Berlin 2 conference on Libya insisted in their final declaration on the need to hold the Libyan presidential and legislative elections on time. The departure of mercenaries and foreign forces, as well as the continuation of the interlibyan dialogue were among the points raised during this conference.
The participants praised the support given by regional organizations and neighboring countries to the national reconciliation process as well as the role played by the African Union and Algeria’s willingness to share its experience in the field of national reconciliation.
Based on the spirit of solidarity with the Libyan people and in order to ensure coordination and consultation with all Libyan parties and neighboring countries, Algeria initiated, in May 2014, the creation of the “Mechanism of neighboring countries of Libya “which held its first meeting in Algiers.
Algeria has also hosted various rounds of dialogues since March 2015 between the Libyan parties as part of the dialogue process supervised by the UN.
