Libya neighbors urge halt to violence, support to political process

The fourth ministerial meeting of Libya's neighboring countries held in Cairo on Monday urged an immediate halt to armed operations in the country, fostering dialogue among political parties, and supporting the political process in order to pave the way for achieving national consensus and reconciliation as well as drawing up a constitution.
The one-day meeting stressed in a final statement the importance of Libya's neighbors mechanism which has to be engaged in all regional and international initiatives seeking a consensus settlement to the crisis.
The statement called on the militias and armed groups in Libya to lay down arms and give up the military choice "according to a gradually phased approach" in the framework of a political agreement among the differing parties that reject violence, and in line with an independent mechanism that enjoys regional sponsorship and international support. It also stressed the necessity of foreign parties refraining from supplying illegitimate groups with weapons.
Meanwhile, participants in the meeting called for countering all forms of terrorism, drying up its sources of funding and fighting cross-border organized crime. They also urged support to the Libyan government to control borders and face smuggling, in cooperation with the neighboring states.
The statement urged setting up a mechanism to follow up the implementation of today's meeting outcome, to be supervised by neighboring FMs, in collaboration with the relevant Arab and African special envoys for Libya.
The meeting entrusted the Egyptian Presidency with "officially" informing the UNSC, the UN Secretary General, the Arab League General Secretariat, the African Union Commission with the final statement. The Spanish government will also be informed to include it in the agenda of a relevant conference to be held in Madrid on September 17.
Participants stressed the importance of moving immediately in cooperation with the Libyan government to handle fresh developments in the country, and achieve integration between regional and international efforts through an initiative by the neighboring states.
This initiative is based on respecting Libya's territorial integrity, sovereignty and safety. Preserving the country's political independence, and not interfering in its internal affairs.
Foreign ministers of Egypt (the host country), Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and Chad and a representatives of Niger took part in the meeting.
The African Union special envoy to Libya Dalita Mohammad Dalita and the Arab League envoy to the country Nasser Al-Qudwa also attended.