Libyan rival factions continue “shuttling” to Algeria in search of compromise

Libyan officials continue, against all odds, their visits to Algeria, despite the logjam approach adopted of late by the leader of the so-called “Libyan Army,” retired General. Khalifa Haftar, who obstructed the path of the ongoing Algerian efforts to bring all the Libyan parties at issue around the same negotiating table.

For their part, the members of the Libyan parliamentary delegation hailed Monday the efforts made by Algeria to facilitate consultations between Libyan parties under the implementation of a political agreement and support to the UN-backed process.

The Chairman of the Committee of national defense of the People’s National Assembly (Lower House) Mr. Mohamed Chenouf received the visiting Libyan delegation in Algiers.

Both sides tackled during the encounter the latest developments in Libya and the “means to boost the process of the crisis resolution, particularly through inclusive dialogue and national reconciliation, in order to preserve stability, peace and security in this brotherly and neighbor country,” a PNA communiqué said.

Mr Chenouf recalled Algeria’s approach for a negotiated settlement of the Libyan crisis and its efforts based on the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, while promoting a political solution and bringing closer the viewpoints of all the Libyan parties at issue.

The Minister of Maghreb Affairs, African Union and Arab League Abdelkader Messahel for his part reiterated earlier this week Algeria’s position for an “inclusive political dialogue” to reach a solution to the crisis in Libya as part of the Agreement signed in December 2015 under the aegis of the United Nations.

“We are for an inclusive political dialogue bringing together the real Libyan players who decide on the future of their country as part of the political Agreement signed on 17 December 2015 between the different Libyan parties,” Mr Messahel told the press following his talks with the UN Secretary General’s special representative to Libya Mr Martin Kobler.

Underlining having exchanged with Mr Kobler views on the current situation prevailing in Libya and discussed “the next phases” for a solution to the crisis, Mr Messahel expressed hope that the year 2017 be that of “lasting return of peace and stability in this neighboring country”.

The minister pointed out that the solution to the crisis is an issue which concerns, first of all, the Libyan themselves, stressing that Algeria “has always called for a frank and direct inter-Libyan dialogue, without any foreign interference and leverage on the different parties to the conflict”.

Mr Messahel also emphasized that Algeria “will continue to support the dialogue process resulting from the political Agreement signed under the aegis of the United Nations”.