France proposes initiative to end Libyan political stalemate

CAIRO – 24 May 2018: France is seeking to resume its mediation role in solving the Libyan crisis by proposing an initiative to end Libya's political impasse with the participation of high official parties, a Libyan source told Egypt Today.

According to the source, Paris has recently conducted several negotiation meetings with Libyan factions' leaders and a number of international countries, before inviting the main parties to participate in a Paris meeting on Tuesday.

Libyan Army Commander Khalifa Haftar, Libyan Presidential Council Chief Fayez Serraj, First Deputy of the State Supreme Council Nagy Mokhtar and Parliament Speaker Akila Saleh will take part in this meeting.

The meeting is also expected to be attended by representatives of Egypt, Gulf countries, European countries, the United States, the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States.

According to the source, the main items of the initiative include immediate unification of the Libyan central bank and the dissolution of all parallel institutions. It also called for opening a new session for voters' registration on the electoral list for an additional period of 60 days.

The initiative added that Libyan army forces should secure election preparations and polling stations, as voting should be taking place later this year. It also urged the international community to support the Libyan authorities in order to help provide Libyans with necessities like money, health and education.

On Wednesday, Haftar stated that Derna will be declared terrorism-free soon, calling on soldiers to purge the city from terrorism while keeping in consideration the safety of civilians.

In a televised speech aired earlier Wednesday, Haftar stressed that the army’s aim is to uproot terrorism, after terrorists had turned down all endeavors to avoid armed confrontation.

Haftar directed the army to take into consideration the safety of Derna’s residents and their properties, except for those who carry arms and fight against the Libyan people.

“After four years of holy struggle against the Kharijites, we are close to the liberation of Derna," Field Marshal Haftar said, warning his soldiers from terrorists’ ambushes.

Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia issued a statement on Monday in which they renewed their rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Libya's internal affairs. The statement was issued following a tripartite meeting of foreign affairs ministers Sameh Shoukry of Egypt, Khemaies Jhinaoui of Tunisia, and Abdelkader Messahel of Algeria in Algiers. They discussed the latest developments in Libya and prospects for a political solution in the Arab country.

"Foreign interference undermines the country's political process, prolongs the crisis, and threatens security and stability in Libya and neighboring countries," the foreign ministers of the three countries said in a statement in support of the political settlement in Libya.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil since a 2011 civil war that resulted in the overthrow of longstanding ruler Muammar Gaddafi by rebel fighters backed by NATO airstrikes.