Messahel: “Exclusion of groups classified as terrorist in Libya from Algeria-sponsored dialogue”

Algeria is deploying strenuous efforts to bring closer the views of the Libyan parties at issue and prepare the conditions for an inclusive dialogue to achieve a consensual politicalsolution to the Libyan crisis, the Minister delegate in charge of Maghrebian and African Affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, said Sunday in Algiers .

Taking the floor during a meeting with the ambassadors of the countries of the European Union (EU) in Algiers, Mr. Messahel said that”Algeria, at the request of the Libyan brothersis making efforts to reconcile the points of view of the parties at issue and set the conditions for an inclusive dialogue, excluding terrorist groups recognized as such by the United Nations”.

The goal, he said, is to “reach a consensual political solution that preserves the unity, the territorial integrity of the country and the cohesion of the Libyan people and paves the way for the establishment of viable  Libyan institutions entrusted with managing the transition period”.

Mr Messahel indicated to this effect that Algeria “is in close contact with partner countries,  from the region and the world at large including neighbouring countries,  as well as with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates,  Turkey, the United States,  France, the United Kingdom,  Italy and Russia to hammer out a general consensus on the outlines of a negotiated exit from the lingering Libyan crisis”.

Representatives of the neighbouring countries, he added, “will meet next Thursday in N’Djamena (Chad) to pursue their dialogue on the Libyan crisis, he added”.

Mr. Messahel also  noted,  that Algeria “supports the ongoing efforts of the special representative of the UN for Libya, Bernardino Leon, with whom consultations are permanent”.

“In spite of adversity, Algeria will pursue its mission which consists in supporting the Libyan stakeholders having expressed readiness to work for a political solution to this crisis,” Messahel affirmed.

He underlined that the Libyans “are the only ones empowered to define the foundations and the contours of the political solution, without any outside foreign meddling, ” recalling that Algeria “has always warned against the devastating consequences of the continuation of violence on the future of the Libyan people and on the stability of the region.”

Mr Messahel added that Algeria, “while continuing to support the UN efforts in the search of a political solution to the crisis, calls for the compliance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and urges Libya’s partners to combine their efforts to consolidate the option of the dialogue and the reconciliation among all the Libyans.”