The General Assembly for Tolerance and Peace calls for a ceasefire for Libya

The Global Council for Tolerance and Peace has issued a statement calling for a ceasefire in Libya, which has been suffering from a civil war since 2011 that pits the Government of National Unity (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, against the National Liberation Army (LNA), commanded by Marshal Khalifa Haftar. 

In the extraordinary and virtual session that has been held, the entity has expressed the need to "support the national (Libyan-Libyan) dialogue and the peace process in coordination with the United Nations (UN), respect the security and independence of Libya, promote the democratic transition and the holding of elections in Libya, strengthen the role of civil society and reconstruction in Libya through civil society organizations and commissions and those specialized in training, encourage respect for human rights by promoting democratic order through strengthening the educational system, support human rights organizations, rehabilitate the families of victims, women and children, and encourage entrepreneurs.

The Assembly's note concludes with a powerful message: "Already, despite the violence, instability and increasing pace of events in Libya, there is still an opportunity to establish peace. Hence, common efforts and coordinated support from the international community are essential to achieve stability and peace". 

The entity has shown its support for all the initiatives open to achieve a ceasefire in the North African nation, from the path initiated by the UN, which is supported by the allies of the GNA, such as Turkey, and also by the United States; to the proposal presented by the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, -a partner of the LNA- at the beginning of June, which was defended by France and the Arab sphere headed by the United Arab Emirates. It has also condemned foreign interference in the conflict, such as the one carried out by Ankara to support the GNA by sending more than 16,000 mercenaries, mostly Syrians - according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) - or the militias, including Russian ones, that have contributed to the LNA's campaign.

"The General Assembly of the CGTP has called on all countries, the United Nations, the Arab League, the Islamic Cooperation Organization, the African Union, the European Union and relevant agencies to urge all Libyan parties to renounce violence and internal strife and to resort to dialogue to end the Libyan crisis; to avoid a bloodshed; to respect human rights and to restore to Libya its key role in helping to ensure international peace and security and the prosperity of the peoples of the region," the note concludes.

In the past week, in anticipation of the potential battle over the geostrategic enclave of Sirte in the north of the country and later over Al-Jufra in the centre, where Libya's largest air base is located, efforts to achieve a ceasefire have multiplied. This Thursday it was known that Haftar was meeting in secret with a delegation from the United States to negotiate a cessation of hostilities. Washington demanded that the marshal withdraw all his forces from the Oil Crescent - the strip of territory that extends along the Libyan coast from Sirte to Ras Lanuf - and accept the presence of a European peace force in the area, Middle East Eye analyst Ragip Soylu said at the time. 

The talks being held by officials from Turkey and Russia - who, it should be remembered, support different sides in the war - to achieve an "immediate" ceasefire and agree on the sharing of spheres of influence also came to light this week. So far, none of the negotiations have been successful.