Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita warned of the repercussions of foreign interference in Libya. He called for international solidarity in order to reach a political solution to the crisis.
In his statements during a UN Security Council session to discuss developments in Libya, Bourita said that “the solution must be political, not military, and it should come from the Libyans themselves and guarantee the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Libya”.
Bourita revealed that there was “disappointment” in Morocco due to the absence of political will, despite the good intentions of the international community. He stressed the need to “be realistic, and pragmatic in dealing with the situation”, taking into consideration “the large number of initiatives based on their predecessors is counter-productive”.
He expressed “concern” about the continuous deterioration of the situation in Libya at the political, security, economic and humanitarian levels.
“Libya is not just a neighboring country. Rather, it is a brotherly country and we share a common history, ties, interests, and a single destiny. For us, Libya is not just a diplomatic issue. Our stability and security are linked to the situation in Libya” Bourita said.
“Libya is not an asset for diplomatic trade,” he added, noting that “foreign interventions do not serve the interests of the country and do not help the Libyan parties to rise above their own interests for the common interest of all Libyans”.
The Moroccan Foreign Minister called for “mobilization” with the aim of a real translation of the international consensus regarding the Libya into “strong and concrete measures”.
Bourita reviewed the agreement concluded by the Libyan parties earlier in the Moroccan city of Skhirat, which he considered “not ideal”, adding “but there is no appropriate alternative on the table. The requirements must be modified and updated”.
He also stressed the need to strengthen and restructure the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
The Foreign Minister also reviewed a set of humanitarian data related to the situation in Libya, stating that 2,356 people were killed over the past year, including 400 civilians. He added that this comes in parallel with the increasing number of displaced people and refugees, as Libya “includes more than 400,000 internally displaced persons and about 50,000 refugees or asylum seekers”.
On the economic level, the Minister indicated that the decrease in the country’s GDP growth is estimated at 58.7% in 2020, while inflation is expected to increase by 22%. Bourita also stressed that the security situation was alarming in light of the presence of out-of-control armed groups, militias, and extremist elements.