ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 13, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, met with the new Special Representative of the Secretary General (UNSRSG) for Libya, Mr. Martin Kobler, at the AU Headquarters in Addis-Ababa, on 12 January 2016, to discuss the prevailing situation in Libya and how to strengthen cooperation between the AU and the UN in their joint efforts to move the political process forward and address the various challenges facing the country.
SRSG Kobler thanked the Commissioner for Peace and Security for availing time to meet with his delegation, and reiterated the UN’s commitment to work with the AU specifically in the implementation of the recently signed Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), on 17 December 2015,. He stressed the need to move towards the formation of a Government of National Accord as soon as possible, in order for it to tackle the many challenges facing Libya including the expansion of the Islamic State terrorist organization in the country. He further highlighted the need for better coordination of international efforts to better assist the country. In this regard, he stressed the critical importance of the AU, alongside the UN.
Commissioner Chergui, on his part, congratulated the UNSRSG on his appointment and the facilitation of the Libyan political dialogue and reiterated the AU’s strong resolve to strengthen its cooperation with the UN, in particular regarding the peace process in Libya. The Commissioner underscored that “the agreement was a step in the right direction and needs to be broadened so that other stakeholders who remain outside the process could be included. We will work hand in glove with the UN to achieve this goal’. He further stressed that: ‘Over the years, the United Nations and the African Union have forged a close and solid partnership on a range of thematic issues and your appointment comes at an opportune time as we strive to move the peace process forward in Libya.’
The Commissioner highlighted that the AU has been closely following the political negotiations and is committed to assist the Libyan stakeholders in taking forward the peace and reconciliation process in their country, in collaboration with the countries of the region, and relevant international partners, including the United Nations, and the European Union. He stressed the importance of Libyan ownership of the process. He expressed concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the country that has created more space for the expansion of terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (IS) and the urgent need for the establishment of a unity government that would bring together a national army that would confront the so called Islamic State. The Commissioner reaffirmed the AU’s readiness to assist Libya with Security Sector Reform and national reconciliation efforts.
Commissioner Chergui also underscored the importance of a coordinated international action and highlighted in this regard the AU’s role in facilitating such efforts through the International Contact Group for Libya (ICG-L), which has already met four times, the last one being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in June 2015. The fifth ICG-L meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, on 28 January 2016, on the margins of the AU Summit.
The Commissioner and the SRSG agreed to work closely in the period ahead especially during the implementation phase of the Libya Political Agreement and to step up their efforts to assist Libya and its return to peace and stability.
