By Hadi Fornaji.
Tripoli, 18 February 2015:
At the UN Security Council this evening, Egypt pulled back from demanding a UN mandate for . . .[restrict]international military intervention in Libya but backed Libya’s call for the lifting of the UN arms embargo so that the government forces can reequip.
While Foreign Minister Mohamed Al-Dairi and his Egyptian opposite number Sameh Shoukry both emphasised the legitimacy of the elected House of Representatives and the government that it had appointed, the Italians, Algerians and Tunisians all underlined their support for UNSMIL’s plan for a National Unity Government (NUG) .
Dairi said that the arms embargo should be lifted so that the government could build up its armed forces. Failure to deal with “rampant terrorism” now would be playing into their hands.
Italy’s UN Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi said that while there had been an election last year, it had not marked a turning point in the political process. Libya’s fragile political and institutional framework risked being filled by the terrorist groups. Italy therefore backed the NUG. But he warned that the next few weeks would be crucial for Libya’s future.
Cardi said that the UNSMIL dialogue led by Bernadino Leon had been acquiring vitality. What was needed was a credible ceasefire respected by all parties. Once a NUG had been formed, the international community should immediately support it to ensure the return of stability and the reconstruction of the country. Italy would be prepared to help monitor a ceasefire and train former militiamen for inclusion in the Libyan Army.
“The crisis is one of the most pressing facing the international community, “ said Cardi, “There has been a grave deterioration, particularly in Tripoli, as evidenced by the attack on the Corinthia Hotel. These latest developments send loud and clear message that we do not have for ever”.
The Security Council session, chaired by the Chinese did not vote on any resolution. [/restrict]
