On Tuesday, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Libyan talks in the Egyptian city of Hurghada, stating the talks were essential for a sustainable ceasefire.
Libya’s warring parties held an UN-backed meeting to discuss a number of security issues. Military delegations from the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA) agreed on the establishment of two military committees. These would form a security force, responsible for securing the new government in Sirte. The two sides also discussed plans to expel mercenaries, demobilise militias and review ways to secure oil sites.
The Italian MoFA considers the resumption of the “5+5” Joint Military Committee negotiations as necessary to sustain the ceasefire in Libya.
“Yesterday, a meeting of security and military delegations from eastern and western Libya kicked off in Hurghada. This was facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and part of the ongoing talks of the “5+5″ Joint Military Committee”, it tweeted.
UNSMIL has extended its gratitude to the Egyptian government for making these important talks possible and for its generous hosting of the delegations. UNSMIL added, “We also extend our thanks to the two delegations, who have demonstrated a positive and proactive attitude aimed at the de-escalation of the situation in central Libya.”
UNSMIL expects the outcome of these face-to-face meetings, to be mainstreamed into the 5+5 Joint Military Commission.