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By Libya Herald reporters.
Tunis, 28 November 2015:
New UNSMIL chief Martin Kobler Tweeted today that he had had a very good meeting in . . .[restrict]Cairo with Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry. It is understood that he also had talks with prime minister designate Faiez Serraj.
Serraj’s communications office, which is currently the Egyptian capital, declined to give details of the talks with Kobler.
The UNSMIL boss has been buoyed by this week’s declaration from 92 members of the House of Representatives in favour of the political accord and presidential council. He has also welcomed support from what he believes is the majority of GNC members.
The international community has likewise homed in on the HoR members’ declaration and perceived GNC support, congratulating them on their courage in the face of menaces.
Ten governments, Algeria, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States today produced a joint statement.
“We commend the courage of these HoR and GNC members who face intimidation by hardliners on both sides seeking to frustrate progress towards a Government of National Accord”.
They said that they admired the politicians’ determination to build a united Libya able to combat instability, extremism and terrorism.
“We remind those attempting to impede progress that they will be held to account by the Libyan people and by the international community for their actions”.
Neither Egypt nor Qatar put its name to the document. UN Secretary-General lauded Qatar for brokering a ceasefire in Obari between Tebu and Tuareg tribesmen, even though it appears that the deal is already being honoured in the breach.
The ten countries did not echo the Italian premier Matteo Renzi’s view that the international campaign against IS in the Levant should also be broadened to include Libya. Renzi told French president Francois Hollande, when they met on Thursday in Paris, that Libya was in danger of becoming the next terrorist emergency and ought to be given “absolute priority”. [/restrict]
