Guns fall silent in Libya : Bahrain welcomes ceasefire

TDT | Agencies


The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Libya’s two rival factions signed a ‘permanent’ ceasefire agreement yesterday after five days of talks at the United Nations, which hailed the move as a moment that will go down in history.

The breakthrough was announced at a signing ceremony that was streamed live on the Facebook page of the UN’s Libya mission, or UNSMIL. “Today is a good day for the Libyan people,” said Stephanie Williams, the UN’s envoy to the troubled North African country, where an UN-recognised government in Tripoli has been battling a rival administration based in the east and dominated by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. “At 11.15 am (0915 GMT) this morning here at the UN head-quarters in Geneva, the two Libyan delegations... signed a complete, countrywide and permanent ceasefire agreement with immediate effect,” she said. Williams said the parties agreed, “all military units and armed groups on the front lines shall return to their camps”.
This would be “accompanied by the departure of all mercenaries and foreign fighters from all Libyan territory, land, air and sea within a maximum period of three months from today.”

Bahrain welcomes ceasefire

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry yesterday welcomed the cease-fire agreement in Libya, calling it “an important achievement and a necessary step to establishing security and stability.” In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry called for continuing efforts to ensure the stability and territorial integrity of Libya. “This would help achieve development, prosperity, the elimination of terrorist organisations, and ending foreign interference in its affairs,” the statement added. Libya’s former colonial power Italy also hailed the agreement, as did the European Union. “The agreement of a permanent ceasefire is key for the resumption of a political dialogue,” said EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Sano, adding, “It’s very important, as well, to see this accord put into effect.”