Heiko Maas: "The arms embargo in Libya is the key to resolving the conflict"

The arms embargo remains the key factor in resolving the conflict in Libya, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Sunday. In an interview for Al-Araby al-Jadeed, Maas said he had witnessed possible positive developments in recent days thanks to the negotiations, and praised the Montreux talks held between representatives of all concerned Libyan parties and groups under the auspices of the United Nations.

It further noted that the parties to the conflict will not be induced to stop their destructive behaviour if the parties concerned fail to stop the steady flow of arms, military equipment and personnel.

The senior German diplomat urged the international community to unite behind efforts to strengthen the UN-led process. "I am very pleased to co-chair with the UN Secretary-General a side event on Libya during the UNGA meeting on Monday," the German minister said.

Maas also noted: "In our ongoing discussions with Libyan actors, we continue to express our demands to close all detention centres while creating sustainable alternatives for migrants and refugees.

"The safety of migrants at sea is a legal and humanitarian obligation. We therefore support the current EU measures to enable the Libyan coastguard to fulfil its search and rescue obligations in the Mediterranean Sea in accordance with international law", he added.

Maas also stressed the importance of fighting human trafficking networks that endanger the lives of refugees and vulnerable migrants.

This Monday, the Berlin conference on Libya will be held by telematic means and will be chaired by António Guterres and Maas.

The representatives of the 16 countries and international organisations that took part in the summit held in the German capital in January are meeting to give new impetus to the road to peace in the Libyan powder keg.

During the negotiations nine months ago, the powers concerned committed themselves to achieving a lasting ceasefire, implementing a UN arms embargo and putting an end to foreign interference in the war that broke out in 2011.

In addition to the Berlin conference, Morocco and Egypt are chosen by both sides in the conflict to conduct several rounds of negotiations to pave the way for a peace process.

Last week, a "conflict of agenda" between the parties led to the postponement of the dialogue table that was to be held in the Moroccan city of Bouznika.

Sources close to the national accord government, supported by the Tripoli-based UN, complained of an attempt to interfere in the peace process by countries in the region and other states directly involved in the civil war.

In early September, the two members of the GNA and the parliament elected in the town of Tobruk - close to the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

On the other hand, the talks on military issues that took place in Cairo have taken place, enabling an initial agreement to be reached on security and military issues. The United Nations Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said in a statement that the discussions between delegations representing the Sarraj government and the Haftar forces "were marked by a spirit of accountability, transparency and mutual trust" in which they addressed a number of urgent issues.

"The participants discussed security arrangements, which will be determined later in the framework of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee discussions", UNSMIL commented.

Last month, the Libyan campaign underwent rapid change with the declaration of a ceasefire by the GNA, led by Sarraj, and the Tobruk Parliament, led by Saleh. Sarraj, the GNA's prime minister, announced his resignation in mid-September and that he would hand over power to his successor "before next October", although the name of his heir has not yet been announced.

The North African country has been divided since the uprisings of 2011, which were triggered by the Arab Spring. After the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the country entered into civil war in 2014 and is experiencing an energy, economic, political and social crisis that has been aggravated by the health crisis following the coronavirus pandemic.