Libyan Parliament Approves UN Envoy Proposal to Amend Skhirat Agreement

  • 11/22/2017
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The Libyan parliament on Tuesday officially approved on Tuesday a proposal by United Nations special envoy Ghassan Salameh to amend the Skhirat peace accord. Parliament spokesman Abdullah Bleiheq said that the majority of lawmakers approved the amendments. The deal was signed in Morocco in 2015. Salameh’s proposal stipulates that Libya’s executive authority be comprised of the presidency and government. The authority would be based in the capital Tripoli with the possibility of executing its duties from any other city as well. Libyan army spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari meanwhile told Asharq Al-Awsat that the military section of Salameh’s proposal is based on the outcomes of the Cairo dialogue. The Cairo talks recently took place between officers from the National Libyan Army (NLA) and their colleagues from the western region that is affiliated to the national accord government headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. Asked if Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar will retain his position as head of the NLA, he replied that the position of the commander is recognized by Sarraj and the higher council of the state that is led by Abdul Rahman al-Suweihli. He said that the gatherers at the Cairo talks acknowledged Haftar as the general commander of the NLA. Moreover, Skhirat agreement amendment will allow the field marshal to become the sole commander of Libyan forces throughout the country, Mesmari added. The amendment also calls for merging the position of defense minister with that of the army general command, he revealed.

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