Off the wire
• Colombian govt to hold peace talks with 2nd largest guerrilla group  • Tata Steel to sell UK business  • UN chief appoints Buttenheim as Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support  • Chinese vice premier sees great potential in co-op with Israel  • Britain welcomes arrival of Libyan Presidential Council in Tripoli  • Ireland's residential property prices up 8 pct on yearly basis in Feb.  • UN sets up Trust Fund in support of victims of sexual exploration, abuse  • Roundup: UN relief leader warns of "dire" humanitarian conditions in Syria despite greater aid access  • EU-India summit focuses on counter-terrorism, economic cooperation  • Security Council renews mandate of UN mission in DRC amid rising political tensions  
You are here: 　 Home

UN envoy in Libya welcomes Presidency Council in Trilpoli

Xinhua, March 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN secretary-general's special representative in Libya, Martin Kobler, welcomed Wednesday the arrival in Tripoli of the Presidency Council early in the day, saying it "marked an important step in Libya's democratic transition and path to peace, security and prosperity."

The UN envoy commended the courage, determination and leadership of the Presidency Council in moving forward with the implementation of the Libyan political agreement and the aspiration of the overwhelming majority of the Libyan people, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said here at a daily news briefing.

"Kobler added that the international community stands firmly behind them and is ready to provide the required support and assistance," he said.

Meanwhile, Kobler, who is also head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), called on the Libyan people to extend to the Presidency Council and the government of National Accord their full support and cooperation," Dujarric said.

Echoing the March 10 statement of the Libyan political dialogue, the special representative urged all public bodies, including official financial institutions, to facilitate an immediate, orderly and peaceful handover of power.

He further stressed that all security actors have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the Presidency Council and of the Government of National Accord, and should refrain from any action that can undermine this crucial phase of Libya's transition.

The UN-backed Presidential Council is supposed to replace the two rival administrations -- one based in Tripoli, the other in the eastern city of Tobruk -- that have been battling each other for more than a year.

Libya has been suffering severe political crises with two rival parliaments and governments, amid escalating violence and growing militant extremism.

The Presidential Council was formed under the UN-backed agreement signed by Libya's rival political parties on Dec. 17 in Morocco.

UNSMIL was established in 2011 by the UN Security Council at the request of the Libyan authorities to support the country's new transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts.

Across the country, it is estimated that 2.4 million individuals are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance and more than 40 percent of the health facilities in Libya are not functioning. Enditem