US diplomat: There is no military solution to the Libyan crisis

The US ambassador in Algeria, Joan Polachik, said on Wednesday that Washington supports Algeria’s efforts to launch a dialogue between Libya’s factions because the resolution to the crisis will not be a military one, Anadolu news agency reported.

The remarks reportedly came during an interview with Algeria’s state news agency APS.

Polachik said that her country and Algeria hold “regular” consultations on the issue and the US supports the Algerian efforts towards launching an inclusive Libyan dialogue.

“We appreciate the close collaboration between Algeria and the UN in order to reach a political solution to the crisis in Libya,” Anadolu quoted Polaschik as saying. She also stressed her country’s commitment to finding a political solution in Libya.

“There is clearly no military solution to the Libyan crisis,” she added.

Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra revealed in mid-October that his country has started to prepare for the launch of dialogue between the parties of the Libyan crisis.

He stressed that while the preparations for the inter-Libyan dialogue are “delicate and important” and the path of reconciliation is sensitive, they had indeed been launched and the international community supports them.

“The role of Algeria is to facilitate this process, we must listen to the Libyan sides and then bridge the divergent views closer in order to launch the dialogue in Algeria or in Libya,” he said, adding that “if Libyans reach an agreement and decide to hold the dialogue on their own territory, that will be perfect.” He did not note the date for the start of the dialogue.

In a related context, the US ambassador to Algeria also said in her interview with APS that: “The US government highly appreciates Algeria’s efforts and its role as mediator to resolve the Malian crisis,” stressing that Algeria is an “excellent partner” to the US in the fight against terrorism and in the promotion of stability in the region.

Since last July, Algeria has been leading international mediation for signing a peace agreement between the Malian government and the rebel groups in the north.