Guterres calls for truce, peace talks in Libya

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that foreign interference in Libya’s war has reached “unprecedented levels” and urged key players and their backers to unblock the political stalemate and agree to a ceasefire and peace talks.

Calling the current situation “gloomy,” the UN chief said on Wednesday that the United Nations political mission in Libya is undertaking de-escalation efforts, “including the creation of a possible demilitarised zone,” to try to reach a negotiated solution and spare lives. He said between April 1 and June 30 there were at least 102 civilian deaths and 254 civilians wounded in Libya, “a 172% increase compared to the first quarter of 2020.” Guterres addressed a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council six months ater leaders of 11 world powers and other countries with interests in Libya’s long-running civil war agreed at a conference in Berlin to respect a much-violated UN arms embargo, hold off on military support to the warring parties, and push them to reach a full ceasefire.

Guterres and speaker ater speaker decried the failure of the parties to adhere to the Berlin agreement and demand its speedy implementation.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, South Africa’s Minister for International Relations Naledi Pandor and Egypt’s foreign minister were among those urging a ceasefire. “We all took strong commitments in the Berlin conference in January and it’s now time to translate our words into concrete actions,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told the virtual meeting. “The polarisation that has turned Libya into a theater for proxy-war needs to stop. Action in support of one or the other Libyan parties needs to stop.”

Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled Muammar Qadhafi, who was later killed. The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.

Eastern forces under Khalifa Hatar launched an offensive trying to take Tripoli in April 2019, and the crisis in the oil-rich country has steadily worsened as foreign backers increasingly intervened despite pledges at the Berlin conference.

Egypt warned that it would intervene militarily if Turkish-backed forces atacked Sirte and the inland Jufra air base.

Guterres told the Security Council that forces supporting the government are now 25 kilometres west of Sirte, ater two previous atempts to gain control of the city.

“The situation on the front lines has been mostly quiet since June 10,” he said.