By Michel Cousins.
Paris, 27 September 2016:
The fight against terrorism in Libya was the main issue in talks in Paris today between Faiez Serraj, the head of the Presidency Council, and French President Francois Hollande.
Paying homage to those Libyans who have been fighting against the so-called Islamic State in Sirte, Hollande said that even when the town is fully recaptured, there were other terrorists in Libya who have to be “hunted down and neutralised”. France would cooperate “as much as is necessary” to see that it happens.
Without saying what action France might take, Hollande mentioned that Serraj would be having separate talks with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
In addition to fully supporting Serraj and his government in the fight against terrorism, France would also back it in rebuilding the country and achieving reconciliation, the French president said.
It was in the interest of the international community, he said, “to have a stable and secure Libya, so we must give very strong backing to national unity government” to achieve reconciliation.
“We will spare no efforts to support Libya”, he said. It must not become like Syria, he insisted.
France was also confident that Serraj would be able to crease a government that included all the competing parties, Hollande added, calling on the House of Representatives to vote for it.
For his part Serraj confirmed that the struggle against terrorism had been the priority discussion and that the two countries would continue cooperation to eradicate the scourge. He also noted that France had itself been a victim or terrorism.
Illegal migration and the humanitarian criris facing Libyans were also discussed, he said.
