EU supports UN ceasefire proposal in Libya

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has called on Friday for a "permanent ceasefire" and UN facilitated political process in Libya.

"The European Union and its Member States welcome the proposal by Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ghassan Salame for a truce on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha as an important step in this regard," Mogherini said in a statement.

Stressing that the measures could constitute a first step towards peace, Mogherini reiterated that there is no military solution to the crisis in Libya.

She said that the EU "fully supports" Salame's proposal to relaunch the political negotiations and to implement the truce.

Mogherini pointed out the importance of protecting civilians, including migrants and refugees, "by allowing and facilitating a safe, rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and services to all those affected".

She noted that those breaching international humanitarian law must be brought to justice and held to account.

Mogherini also called all UN member states to contribute to Libya’s peace and stability, protect country's oil resources and infrastructure, as well as to "respect the arms embargo".

She urged all parties to "dissociate themselves" from terrorist and criminal elements involved in the fighting, as well as those suspected of war crimes.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-serving leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.

Since then, the oil-rich country has seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN recognition.