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Libya

Reconciliation, Unity and Peace: Kobler’s Message to Libyans

Meeting in the margins of the General Assembly today, 22 September, senior officials from Algeria, Canada, Chad, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Niger, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, United Nations, the League of Arab States, and the African Union adopted a communique “[reaffirming their] commitment to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya’s (UNSMIL) efforts under the leadership of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General, to facilitate the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement and support the Presidency Council in addressing the political, security, economic, and institutional crises facing the country.”

Speaking in the lead up to the high-level meeting, Special Representative Martin Kobler told us of his work trying to bring the parties in Libya together to move beyond armed confrontation.

Politically Speaking: What keeps you hopeful of being able to make progress in Libya?

Martin Kobler: Well, the objective is of course to do something for the people of Libya. This is very difficult because it’s a process of nation building and after 42 years of Gadhafi-dictatorship it is not easy to come to quick solutions here. That’s why we have accompanied this process of the Libyan political agreement, the Libyans signed it on 17 December last year and this foresees the installation of a Government of National Accord. It is a cumbersome process, but it’s very important to push it ahead, but it’s the Libyans who have to take the lead. We are in a supportive function. We want to support the people of Libya, the main stakeholders, the security stakeholders in order to bring peace and security and stability back to Libya after such a long time of dictatorship, of chaos and of civil war.

What do you expect to get out of this week at the General Assembly?

It’s of course great to see all the political stakeholders here: Prime Minister Serraj is here and he will be addressing the ministerial meeting [today] on Libya. This is the main purpose. On Libya, I have been to the Security Council last week and presented an update on the situation. Not all is ideal. There is a lot of things to do. The political process is stuck. The single most important issue is the security track, to bring about a united Libyan army; to call for dialogue, not for military action but for peaceful reconciliation in this troubled country. And here in New York of course is THE forum where foreign ministers, presidents are there of neighbouring states but also of the wider international community. Because Libya cannot be left alone, it needs the support not only of the United Nations but also of the neighbouring states; a unity of approach but also of the wider international community and this is the purpose. I am very happy to be here to talk to representatives of international organizations, like the League of Arab States, like the European Union but also with the foreign ministers of neighbouring states and others.

What is your abiding message for Libyans?

The single most important message is to go back to national reconciliation, to find a peaceful solution, not to resort to violence. Every conflict has to be solved peacefully and this is our raison d’être, this is our objective: To assist everybody in an equidistant way – east, west and south to find this way out of this stalemate, of chaos, of violence in this troubled country. That’s why we are there for. We need the support of the international community and we need of course the support of the United Nations – the whole family of the United Nations, particularly in the humanitarian field. 60 per cent of the hospitals are not working satisfactorily. Humanitarian assistance is important, political process and security process. My single most important message to each and every man, women and children of Libya, the young population of Libya: Reconcile, do it in a peaceful way. Everybody is helping you for the sake of the unity of Libya.