Libyan Neighbours' Ministerial Conference does not recognise Tobruk parliament

A Sudanese diplomat working at the Sudanese embassy in Libya denied media reports that the Libyan Neighbours’ Ministerial Conference held in Khartoum yesterday recognised the Libyan parliament in Tobruk, east Libya.

In a statement to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the diplomat said the conference did not address the issue but it reached an agreement to support the dialogue led by the UN Special Envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon.

The statement issued by the Ministerial Conference, read by the Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti, stressed the need to renounce violence and pressure the parties involved in the conflict to reach a consensual solution that restores Libya’s stability. He also called for the need to immediately stop all armed operations in Libya, reach a peace agreement and create a new constitution.

The Libyan Neighbours’ Ministerial Conference held in Sudan, which includes countries that support direct military intervention in Libya, such as Egypt, and others that are opposed to intervention, such as Algeria, is considered futile from a political point of view because it didn’t include the General National Congress, Libya Dawn forces, or the Libyan National Salvation government led by Omar Al-Hasi. Thus any decisions will be non-binding.

According to analysts, the conference does not have the capacity to be anything more than one attempt in a series of attempts to convene the Libyan parties and establish an international and regional general opinion that supports the UN Envoy in Libya in its dialogue scheduled to begin on December 9.

Those observing the situation have noted that there are positive indicators regarding the possibility of dialogue succeeding under the sponsorship of the UN, especially since the General National Congress announced its acceptance of the principle of dialogue.