Algeria-SANA
The participants in the ministerial meeting of Libya's neighboring countries held in Algeria reiterated the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya, calling for the removal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from it as soon as possible and the settlement of the crisis in it.
In a statement reported by the Algerian News Agency, the foreign ministers participating in the meeting stressed the need to work on a settlement to the crisis in Libya away from any military solutions or foreign interference, calling on the Libyan parties to return to the political track under the auspices of the United Nations within the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In their statement, the foreign ministers stressed their categorical rejection of terrorism and violence, whatever its form and source, and the need for coordination and cooperation in order to address all threats to the security and stability of Libya and the countries of the region, and their support for efforts and initiatives aimed at finding a solution to this crisis through the outcomes of the “Berlin” conference. Berlin expressed its readiness to host meetings between the Libyan parties to bring their views closer and invite them to return to the dialogue table and negotiate to end the crisis in Libya in a manner that preserves Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity and meets the aspirations of its people.
The second Berlin conference, which was held in late June, focused on supporting reconciliation and emphasizing the need for foreign forces to leave Libyan lands, in addition to ensuring that presidential and parliamentary elections are held on their scheduled date at the end of this year.
During the opening of the meeting, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra stressed the need to expel all foreign forces and mercenaries as soon as possible from Libyan territory and to continue efforts to complete the unification of state institutions and achieve national reconciliation within the framework of settling the crisis in Libya.
Lamamra expressed his country's rejection of the schemes of some foreign powers aimed at serving their own agendas at the expense of the strategic interests of Libya and its neighbors.
According to the Algerian Foreign Minister, the meeting comes as an affirmation of the importance of the role of the neighboring countries and the African Union in laying the foundations for security and stability in Libya and intensifying coordination with the active countries to reach understandings regarding holding the elections at the end of this year in this country.
This is the second meeting of its kind after the meeting hosted by Algeria in January last year, in which seven foreign ministers from the neighboring countries of Libya participated.
The meeting of Libya's neighboring countries began in Algiers earlier today and will continue until tomorrow, in which the participants will discuss settling the crisis in Libya and laying out a road map for organizing the general elections scheduled for the 24th of next December.