Libya's Presidential Council calls for international sponsorship, guarantees for ceasefire

30 Avril 2020

Tripoli, Libya, April 30 (Infosplusgabon) - The Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya has expressed its mistrust at the proclamation of a cessation of military operations announced  on Wednesday evening by the camp of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

It said that ensuring the establishment of a ceasefire requires international mechanisms and guarantees in the framework of the talks of the 5 + 5 Dialogue Committee under the auspices of the United Nations.

In a press statement, the Presidential Council stressed on Thursday that "any operation of ceasefire, surveillance of violations and breach of a real truce, requires international sponsorship, guarantees and mechanisms for research thanks to the activation of the work of the 5 + 5 Military Committee supervised by the support mission in Libya".

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced on Wednesday evening that it would stop military operations during the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims.

A press release issued by the media office of the President of the Presidential Council of the GNA reaffirmed its position to continue "in self-defence, and to target hotbeds wherever they are found to end groups of outlaws who have taken the lives of Libyans lightly throughout country".

The Presidential Council declared: "We wish to clarify and assure the international community, in particular the friendly countries interested in the Libyan question, that we have been and are still determined to stop the bloodshed of Libyans, and of this perspective, we have declared our commitment to resolution 2510 of 2020 of the UN Security Council, which reinforces the results of the Berlin Conference and plans to cease hostilities and protect civilians."

It recalled that it unilaterally signed the ceasefire proposed by Russia and Turkey in Moscow on 12 January, but which Haftar failed to sign.

The Presidential Council regretted the increase in "documented violations by the aggressor (Haftar) since the publication of the Security Council resolution", noting that the residential districts of the capital, Tripoli, continue to be bombed, killing dozens of civilians and destroying their homes.

The Council stressed that "despite these violations, we have once again accepted the humanitarian truce that many international and regional organizations have called for in order to protect our citizens and all residents of Libya in particular because of the coronavirus pandemic".

"It has become clear to everyone that we assert that the lack of humanity in the aggressor (Haftar) and his terrorist and mercenary militias, since he sees the epidemic as an opportunity to intensify his attacks, taking advantage of our concern to face this pandemic."

"The above violations mean that we never have confidence in what is declared a truce, because it (Haftar camp) is used to betrayal," the Counvil said.

Haftar announced the abandonment of the political agreement signed in 2015 in Skhirat in Morocco, claiming that he had received a mandate from the citizens of Libya to lead the country.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/RTF/GABON2020

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