By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 23 September 2014:
Representatives from opposing factions in the current conflict are to hold talks . . .[restrict]to end the crisis in just under one week’s time, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has said.
The discussions, which are to begin on 29 September, will focus initially on a framework to agree the rules and procedure of the House of Representatives and other “critical issues relating to the governance of the country”. UNSMIL has said it is likely that such key issues would require a two thirds majority in the house to pass.
The main issues for debate are:
- The issue of a handover ceremony;
- The venue of the HoR;
- Decisions of the HoR since it started on 4 August;
- The “government” of Omar Al-Hassi
Well-placed diplomatic sources have indicated the decision of the House of Representatives to meet in Torbruk was a major point of contention with those boycotting the new parliament.
For them, Tobruk is not acceptable. Venues other than Tripoli, such as Jufra have been mentioned by Libyans, but they are unlikely to be acceptable to the majority of HoR members as it is seen as being under Misrata’s control.
In a joint Joint Communique the governments of Algeria, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, the UAE, UK, US and the EU have given their backing to the talks.
The nations have said that they welcome “the acceptance of Libyan parties to participate in a UN-facilitated political dialogue, beginning on September 29, to put an end to the current conflict”.
UNMSIL has said that in parallel to the talks, parties will address a number of “confidence building measures and security arrangements”, which will “create the necessary conditions for peace and trust to prevail in Libya”.
Key to these measures is an agreement by all parties to comply with the UN Security Council’s resolution on Libya, made last month, and its calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. They will include a a timeline for the withdrawal of armed groups from main cities, airports and other public installations across the country. The negotiating parities must also support the distribution of humanitarian relief and a committee from across the groups will be formed to address cooperation.
The UN has said that it is acting solely as a facilitator in these matters and that the negotiations will operate under the principle that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.
The agreement to negotiations follows two weeks of talks between UNSMIL Head Bernardino Leon and the differing groups.
On 11 September Leon met with Tripoli-based boycotters of the House of Representatives and earlier discussed the grievances of Misratan leaders in their home city.
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