By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 13 September 2014:
UNSMIL chief Bernardino Leon has warned that the “world is watching” and that all parties . . .[restrict]involved in the present conflict should not forget the demands of international law.
He was speaking in Tripoli after travelling to Zintan to meet local leaders, as part of his latest visit to Libya.
Zintan mayor, Mustafa Al-Barouni told the Libya Herald that Leon had listened to a range of opinions. “ We were trying to come up with a solution that will satisfy everyone” he said. He and his fellow leaders were trying to foster peace and seek consensus.
Leon was presented with five conditions for the town’s participation in a peace process. The key was that Zintan would not negotiate with anyone who did not accept the legitimacy of the House of Representatives and the outcome of the vote which elected them.
The Zintanis then went on to demand that Libya Dawn forces withdraw from Tripoli, which should be secured by “a neutral Libyan force”. The government would then return to the capital. There should also be an immediate ceasefire “in Warshefana and elsewhere”.
The final condition was that there had to be investigations and prosecutions of everyone involved in the assault on Tripoli, the destruction of property including the international airport, and the lootings, killings and abductions that have taken place in recent weeks.
Speaking back in Tripoli on Thursday, Leon gave a sober assessment of the tasks ahead for UNSMIL. He regretted the continued fighting in the Warshefana area which meant that the ceasefire was not complete.
“We are trying to assess what are the chances to go from a situation of relative calm, as we have now, to a situation in which we can really resume the political process. This is the goal today but we are not yet there.”
He made a point of warning that indiscriminate shelling and hostage-taking were war crimes. Those involved should bear in mind “this is not a small tribal fighting. The world is watching. The world would like the parties to remember that international law is something that they should take into account.”
He praised the fact that he had found general agreement that the only solution was through dialogue and said that there was also a consensus that the United Nations had a role to play. UNSMIL was looking at how it could be useful in capitalising on what he said was a positive commitment for a settlement.
“We need this commitment, this leadership and I think this is taking shape. But as I said before we are not yet there”.
He said there was agreement on the main principles that should guide talks and the future political process, which were “Legitimacy, respect for the constitutional declaration and for the procedures established in that declaration. Also we have seen agreement on the commitment to the democratic principles, a very clear rejection of terrorism. But obviously there is still some distance for some actors … There is still more work to do.” [/restrict]
