4 yıl önce

Libya rivals agree on 'compromise' in Morocco-brokered talks

MAP news agency, citing a joint statement, says both sides made "important compromises," without giving any specifics.

AFP

The meeting was held at the initiative of Rabat, which had hosted peace talks in 2015 that led to the creation of a United Nations-recognised government for Libya.

Moroccan-brokered talks between Libya's two rival administrations have led to agreement on the need for "compromise."

Morocco's MAP news agency, citing a joint statement at the end of the meetings on Tuesday, said the parties agreed to work to eradicate corruption and the abuse of public funds in the chaos-strewn country and to end its institutional divisions.

They had made "important compromises", it said, without giving any specifics.

"The two parties hope to secure positive and concrete results that will clear the way to achieve the process of a comprehensive political settlement."

The meeting was held at the initiative of Rabat, which had hosted peace talks in 2015 that led to the creation of a United Nations-recognised government for Libya.

The talks came after the two sides announced a surprise ceasefire last month.

Key points of dispute

Abdessalam al-Safraoui, heading the team from Tripoli, said on Monday that the dialogue in the coastal town of Bouznika, south of Rabat, was focused on appointments at the top of Libya's key institutions.

The naming of the heads of Libya's central bank, its National Oil Corporation, and the armed forces have been the main points of dispute, according to Libyan media.

Dubbed the "Libyan Dialogue", the talks that opened on Sunday brought together five members of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and five from a controversial parliament headquartered in the eastern city of Tobruk.

'Libyan-led dialogue'

"We trust that the latest initiative by Morocco will have a positive impact on the United Nations facilitation of the Libyan owned and Libyan-led political dialogue", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesman said on Monday.

Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The crisis worsened last year when warlord Khalifa Haftar, who backs the Tobruk parliament and is supported by Egypt, UAE, and Russia, launched an offensive to seize Tripoli from the GNA.

Haftar was beaten back earlier this year by Turkish-backed GNA forces and fighting has now stalled around the Mediterranean city of Sirte, the gateway to Libya's eastern oil fields and export terminals.

On August 22, the rival administrations announced separately that they would cease all hostilities and hold nationwide elections, moves welcomed by the international community.

SOURCE: AFP