The ongoing Libyan crisis can be solved only when the Libyan rivals understand that they must compromise and live together in harmony, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
He added he is hopeful for a solution to the eight-year long conflict in Libya after a high-level meeting in Tunis on Saturday with officials from the Arab League, the European Union, and the African Union – the group known as the Libya Quartet.
“We see signs that an understanding is possible to overcome the current crisis,” Guterres said.
“If there is a word that can define what I think and feel about Libya today, that word is hope. This is a moment of hope for Libya,” said the UN Secretary-General in a press conference after the meeting. “I have hope because I believe that it is possible to have now a Libyan-led political process aiming at the solution of the Libyan problems.”
He added that ending the Libyan issue will affect not only the country but also the entire region, and that the Libyans will be able to find a solution to unite through the upcoming National Forum, Guterres stressed.
The meeting in Tunis included Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Ahmed Abulgheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League; Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Ghassan Salamé, U.N. Special Representative in Libya.
Mogherini said the National Forum will be a platform for Libyans to find a solution to the crisis themselves.
“We are here to stress the call for all conflicting Libyan parties to reach a solution through dialogue,” she added.
Last month, Salame announced before the Security Council that the National Forum is set to be held on 14-16 April in Libya in a critical opportunity to end the prolonged transitional period since 2011.
