Algiers – On Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, met with the Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Stephanie Williams, who is visiting Algeria to discuss and coordinate on the developments in Libya between Algeria and the United Nations.
In a press statement following the meeting, Minister Attaf highlighted that the meeting provided an opportunity to review the efforts made by the UN to advance the political process for resolving the Libyan crisis. He affirmed Algeria’s unwavering and unconditional support for these efforts, both as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and through its roles in various regional organizations, especially the African Union.
The minister reiterated Algeria’s confidence in the UN’s ability to achieve the desired goals, while expressing regret that the Libyan crisis has entered its thirteenth year, with its complexities growing over time and the prospects for a political solution diminishing.
Attaf attributed the prolonged nature of the Libyan crisis primarily to the increasing and complex foreign interventions in the country’s affairs. He asserted that the key to resolving the crisis lies in eliminating these interventions in all their forms and motives, whether political, military, or security-related.
As a neighboring and brotherly country to Libya, Attaf renewed Algeria’s call for all foreign parties to withdraw from Libyan affairs and to cease actions that fuel division and deepen the rift among Libyans.
He emphasized Algeria’s firm belief that ending these foreign interventions would significantly help Libyans overcome current divisions and find a consensus that would enable a Libyan-led process to resolve the crisis definitively.
Minister Attaf highlighted four main priorities: avoiding turning the electoral process into an end in itself, ensuring the preservation and stabilization of the ceasefire agreement, supporting initiatives that complement UN efforts as the primary reference for resolving the Libyan crisis, and not abandoning the Libyan national reconciliation project. He stressed that national reconciliation remains crucial despite the challenges it has faced, as it would foster unity among Libyans and move them away from divisiveness.
Attaf expressed his gratitude for the UN’s commitment to consulting and coordinating with Algeria and assured continued Algerian support for UN efforts aimed at securing a better future for Libya and its people.
Stephanie Williams acknowledged Algeria’s important and fundamental role in supporting Libyan efforts to find a solution to the crisis. She described her discussion with Minister Attaf as deep and very beneficial, addressing challenges related to security and economic divisions as well as regional stability.
Williams noted the shared goals between the UN and Algeria, which aim to benefit the Libyan people and achieve a unified Libyan state free from divisions, ultimately contributing to regional stability.
