Borrell: Libya Remains Top Priority for EU

  • 9/1/2020
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The EUs foreign policy chief held talks with head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj on Tuesday to push for renewed efforts to resolve the countrys long-running conflict. "#Libya remains top priority for EU. We welcome recent ceasefire understanding, and continue to support dialogue and Libyan-led political resolution to conflict," Josep Borrell tweeted after the meeting. The GNA and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based parliament, in late August made separate announcements that they would cease all hostilities and hold nationwide elections, drawing praise from world powers. "EU strongly supports Berlin process, mediation efforts and de-escalation measures, including arms embargo - key elements to bring Libyan conflict to an end," Borrell tweeted. He was referring to a January summit in the German capital where the main countries involved in the Libyan conflict agreed to respect an arms embargo and to stop interfering in Libyas domestic affairs. Borrell said he had also discussed ways "to advance (the) political process", revive joint military talks between the Libyan National Army and GNA and to lift an oil blockade imposed since January by pro-LNA groups demanding a fair share of hydrocarbon revenues. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, who also met with Sarraj on Tuesday, said Italy supported the ceasefire and that foreign interference "must stop". According to comments released after the meeting, Di Maio called Libya "a crucial crossroads for building a new model" of development in the Mediterranean, while Sarraj voiced interest in Italian firms investing "to support Libyas development and growth". Di Maio previously met with Sarraj in late June, promising that a Mediterranean naval operation to enforce the arms embargo would be effective.

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