BRUSSELS — The European Union on Saturday warmly welcomed the announcements issued on Friday by the head of the Presidency Council of Libya Fayez Al-Serraj and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh that they would cease all hostilities and hold nationwide elections, drawing praise from several regional blocs and countries. “This is a constructive first step forward, which demonstrates the determination of the Libyan leaders to overcome the current stalemate and creates a new hope for a common ground towards a peaceful political solution to the longstanding Libyan crisis and the termination of all foreign interference throughout the country,” said EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a Declaration on behalf of the 27-member union. “We fully support the agreement around the principles to immediately cease all military activities across Libya, requiring the departure of all foreign fighters and mercenaries present in Libya, and resume the negotiating process in the framework of the UN-led Berlin process,” it stressed. The EU urged all the Libyan parties, and all those supporting them in any form, to translate these principles into concrete actions on the ground leading to permanent ceasefire and to relaunch the political process. The EU Declaration said it took note of the announcements regarding the lifting of the blockade on oil infrastructure. “We now call for these announcements to be followed by concrete developments in terms of a full resumption at full capacity throughout the country in the interest of all the Libyan people, along with the implementation of economic reforms with a view to agreeing on a fair and transparent distribution mechanism for oil revenues and to enhancing the governance of Libyan economic and financial institutions,” it noted. The EU reiterated its full support to the UN and the Libyans in implementing these principles and reaffirmed its commitment to the Libyan people in their efforts to establish a sovereign, united, stable and prosperous country. — KUNA