Day: April 8, 2023

The meetings of the Joint Military Committee (5 + 5) and the military, security, and field leaders of the eastern and western regions kicked off on Friday evening in Benghazi, in the presence of the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily.

Bathily called on the military and security leaders to make efforts and work to reach the elections, expressing his hope to reach consensus and real progress.

The meeting in Benghazi comes about two weeks after a similar meeting in Tripoli, during which it was agreed to reject foreign interference in Libyan affairs, and “continue to work to unify military institutions through the chiefs of staff, unify security institutions and the rest of state institutions, and reject fighting and violence in all its forms, in addition to creating a unified government that would supervise the elections.

Source: Libyan News Agency

The General Department of Security Operations’ Tasks Department patrols in Misrata arrested three African nationals who were involved in drug trafficking inside a building housing foreign employees.

The Ministry of Interior said through its communication office that the arrest operation took place after investigating and collecting information about them and preparing a sophisticated ambush for them, and they were seized after taking permission from the Anti-Narcotics Prosecution.

Source: Libyan News Agency

The UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, described the meeting of military and security leaders from the east and west of the country in Benghazi as a symbol of the unity and sovereignty of a new Libya, urging the participants not to let down the people and children of Libya—your children—who aspire for a safer and more prosperous future through this irreversible path to peace.

“We all know that the full resolution of the Libyan crisis and the current political stalemate needs time, perseverance, and patience, However, I am sure your continued coordination and cooperation represent a great opportunity to sustain dialogue, to build trust, and to exchange views on how to provide a solid foundation for a political resolution that culminates in resolving the Libyan crisis through creating a conducive environment for inclusive, free, and fair elections in 2023,” stressing the participants’ determination to support the UN’s good offices, to resolve the current crisis, and their commitment to end division and proceed steadily towards inclusive elections are needed, with this determination and commitment, the participants support the Libyans and their homeland.

Bathily warned the military and security leaders that they share responsibility with all other political leaders and civil society actors for crafting a peaceful environment for all people in Libya to secure a stable and prosperous future, adding that the patriotic path you chose to take must not be deterred by polarized discourse that some tend to promote, urging them to keep united and continue to be united for Libya.

“Peace, stability, development, and prosperity are the fruits of true reconciliation, good will, and real compromise from the few to the greater good of the whole nation. At the same time, enmity, hatred, conflict, and wars are all about destroying nations as well as souls.” Bathily said.

I count on your cooperation to create the necessary conditions for peace and stability in Libya. I hope that during this meeting you will be able to move forward and agree to adopt a pact of honor, shape a conducive political environment, commit to secure, free, and fair elections in 2023, and endorse the results. Today, your contributions and your further support for the national reconciliation process are also much appreciated at this critical phase.” he added.

“Let’s close all doors to conflict and have the doors wide open for constructive dialogue and reconciliation,” he said.

Bathily expressed his aspiration to build on the meeting and bring further progress, to include his upcoming briefing to the UN Security Council, scheduled in about 10 days from now, stressing that he will continue to work with all parties to restore hope among all Libyans whose eyes are fixed on Benghazi, and to the audience.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Members of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee and commanders of military and security units from the western, eastern and southern regions affirmed their full commitment to everything that resulted from the dialogue between the Military Committee and the military and security leaders in the Tunis and Tripoli meetings.

In a statement at the conclusion of their meeting in Benghazi today, Saturday, in the presence of the Special Envoy to Libya, Abdullah Batili, the conferees confirmed their readiness to provide all forms of support to secure the elections in all its stages.

The conferees urged support for the efforts of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee and the Libyan Communication Committee emanating from it in expelling mercenaries and foreign fighters.

The participants in the meeting agreed to start practical procedures to address the problems of the displaced, and the missing, and to ensure their safe return, in coordination between the concerned security agencies in the various regions of Libya.

The conferees also agreed to exchange information regarding detainees held by both sides and to start taking practical steps to exchange detainees as soon as possible.

The conferees expressed their appreciation for the General Command’s initiative to release six of the detainees from the western region on security issues.

The committee members set the date for the next meeting, after the holy month of Ramadan, in the city of Sebha.

The International Support Mission in Libya said that the aim of the meeting is to enhance confidence between the military and security leaders to support the political process and to move forward in providing a suitable environment for holding free and fair elections during the current year (2023) and the acceptance of their results from all parties.

Source: Libyan News Agency

The activities of the third Quranic NAMA competition for memorizing the Holy Quran at the level of Libya, which was held in the Ibrahim Al-Mahjoub Mosque in Misrata, concluded, in which about (225) contestants from various Libyan cities participated.

The media office of the Prime Minister stated that “Abdul Hamid al-Dabaiba” participated in the closing ceremony of the activities of this competition, where he presented a prize of (10) thousand dinars to each winner of the competing Quran students.

Source: Libyan News Agency