Arab League calls on UN to unfreeze Libya’s assets

Ministers from the Arab League yesterday called for the UN to unfreeze Libya’s international assets.

The ministers called for the release of the funds so they may be used by the UN-backed Presidency Council (PC) to fund services needed by the Libyan people.

During the meeting, the ministers reaffirmed their support of the Libyan Political Agreement and the PC as the country’s legitimate authority and sovereignty unparalleled by any other authority in the country.

The LPA was signed in Morocco 2015 as basis for a solution in unifying the warring factions in the country and a return of authority and security but has since failed to be implemented by rival figures who refuse to recognise the legitimacy of the PC.

The ministers also discussed new moves for dialogue to be established under the supervision of the UN and the Arab League to kick start the peace process and help Libya move on from fighting that has plagued its cities since the revolution in 2011.

The rejection of any outside interference in Libya affairs has been a common theme in the mediation process led by countries like Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt who call for a solution to the conflict in-house and via peaceful means.

The PC’s Foreign Minister, Moahmed Siala, attended the meeting between the AL members as well as separate meetings with the speaker of the Arab Parliament, Meshaal Ain Fahm Al-Salami, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

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Both individuals will be attending the six-nation London conference on Libya today along with representatives of the UAE, Italy, France and the US.

A meeting organised by the Libyan committee of the African Union last week was attended by PC head Fayez Al-Sarraj but rival leader based in the east of the country, Khalifa Haftar, refused to attend sparking concern that discussions between the two leaders in Paris in July led to little progress.