Libya's neighbours concerned about security

Foreign ministers of countries neighbouring Libya yesterday expressed “grave concern” about the developments in the security situation in the country.

In a statement issued following the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Algeria, the ministers “expressed their grave concern over developments in Libya and its repercussions on security and stability and their direct impact on neighbouring countries.”

They expressed their “solidarity with the Libyan people… to maintain the rule of Libya and its independence and territorial integrity [and] reject any interference in its internal affairs.”

They also called on all active parties Libya to “stop the violence in all its forms and to resort to dialogue… and to address all forms of attempts to destabilise Libya and threaten the security of neighbouring countries and the region.”

Libya’s neighbours are: Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Chad, Sudan and Egypt.

The statement also pointed to the importance attached by these countries to “secure the border with Libya and the need for cooperation and coordination to fight terrorism, the arms trade, drugs and illegal immigration.”