BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2019) The European Union reaffirmed on Tuesday its commitment to convention of a national reconciliation conference in Libya in light of the announcement of its postponement, Maja Kocijanсiс, the spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.
According to the statement, UN Special Representative for Libya Ghassan Salame has announced the postponement of the conference due to deteriorating security situation in the North African country, where tensions between rival factions escalated last week.
"The European Union fully supports and shares the UN Special Representative's call upon all parties to agree on an immediate ceasefire, to allow humanitarian access and to return to the negotiating table ... We remain fully committed to supporting the UN's work in Libya, including the organization of the National Conference as soon as conditions allow," the statement read.
The European Union reiterated its call on the parties to the Libyan conflict to stop all military activities immediately in order to avoid further escalation.
Salame, who said in late March that the conference for national reconciliation would be held on April 14-16 in the Libyan town of Ghadames, pledged earlier on Tuesday to continue his effort toward convening the conference.
Libya has been suffering from unrest since 2011, when its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. The country is divided between two rival governments, with an elected parliament governing the east and the UN and EU-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) ruling the west from the country's capital of Tripoli.
The situation escalated last week, when the the Libyan National Army (LNA), backed by the eastern government, announced on Thursday an offensive against Tripoli in a bid to oust what General Khalifa Haftar called terrorist forces from the city. In response, forces loyal to the GNA started a military operation against the LNA on Sunday.
