Brussels: The European Union on Saturday hailed an accord between Libya’s warring factions on creating a roadmap toward a unity government, but said there was still a “long way to go” to bring peace to the country.
The factions fighting for control over Libya agreed on an “agenda” to form the unity government after two days of UN-brokered talks in Geneva, the United Nations said Friday.
“Some steps in the right direction have been taken,” Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, said.
“This initial progress is a start and should be welcomed even if there’s still a long way to go. The participants have shown a constructive attitude,” she said.
“I encourage all invited representatives, including those who did not attend this round, to participate in the second round of talks next week with the same spirit of respect and consensus.”
On Friday, the Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) alliance also announced “a ceasefire on all fronts” as long as “the other parties respect the truce”.
The alliance, which had not taken part in the first round of the Geneva talks, called on the international community to step up efforts to prevent “foreign fighters from flooding” into Libya.
The announcement came just hours after the unity roadmap deal was announced.
Libya has been wracked by conflict since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 uprising, with rival governments and powerful militias battling for control of key cities and the country’s vast oil riches.
“The gravity of the situation in Libya requires that all Libyans place the interest of their nation above their differences and reach an agreement that can finally put an end to the deepening political and security crisis in the country,” Mogherini
