Ashraf AboArafe
Tiday, the secretary general, Antonio Guterres, held a conference about seizing fire in Libya as follows:
New York, 23 October 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press,
I welcome the signing of a ceasefire agreement by the Libyan parties in Geneva today under the auspices of the United Nations.
This is a fundamental step toward peace and stability in Libya.
I congratulate the parties for putting the interest of their nation ahead of their differences.
I thank my Acting Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Ms. Stephanie Williams, who accompanied the Libyan parties in this effort.
Now, too many people have suffered for too long.
Too many men, women and children have died as a result of the conflict.
The agreement was negotiated within the framework of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, and the talks were facilitated by the United Nations on the basis of Security Council resolution 2510 and 2542. It is the result of four rounds of negotiations held since February of this year.
The ceasefire also follows a meeting in the context of the High-level week of the General Assembly that I co-chaired with the Foreign Minister of Germany, which helped to galvanize the efforts of the international community.
I want to thank all those countries supporting this mediation in the context of the Berlin Process and in meetings organized by neighbouring countries of Libya.
I appeal to all stakeholders and regional actors to respect the provisions of the ceasefire agreement and ensure its implementation without delay.
I call on the international community to support Libyans in implementing the ceasefire and in bringing an end to the conflict. This includes ensuring the full and unconditional respect for the Security Council arms embargo.
And I urge the Libyan parties to maintain the current momentum and show the same determination in reaching a political solution to the conflict, resolving economic issues and addressing the humanitarian situation.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya is making preparations to resume the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, which will be preceded by a series of meetings and consultations that would facilitate the resumption of inclusive, intra-Libyan political talks – Libyan-led and Libyan owned.
There is no military solution for the conflict in Libya. This ceasefire agreement is a critical step. But there is much hard work ahead.
The United Nations will continue to support the Libyan parties in the search for lasting peace in their country.
But I also want to stress:
In the context of my repeated calls for a global ceasefire so that we can focus all our energies on the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the inspiration of the Libyan agreement, now is the time to mobilize all efforts to support the mediations taking place to end the conflicts in Yemen, Afghanistan and in Armenia and Azerbaijan – where active hostilities are causing immense suffering for civilians.
There is no military solution for any of these conflicts. The solution must be political.
Thank you.
