Jordan supports tentative Libyan deal

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Sunday participated in the ministerial meeting on Libya, held in Rome, where he renewed support for the country’s national unity. 

The meeting, headed jointly by Italy and US foreign ministers, was attended by representatives of Arab and foreign countries, in addition to representatives from Libya’s political and social powers that participated in the Skhirat dialogue under the auspices of the UN. 

In his remarks during the meeting, Judeh reaffirmed Jordan's supportive stance to form a national unity government in Libya to round up and build institutions mentioned in the Skhirat Agreement to restore security and repel terror groups, especially Daesh, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Moreover, he stressed the importance of stopping such terror groups through an international partnership with the Libyan national unity government and law enforcement institutions established by the Skhirat Agreement. 

He said Jordan supports the agreement that will be signed in the Moroccan city of Skhirat this month, voicing hope that all Libyan parties will sign it to end the current state of fragmentation in Libya. 

US Secretary of State John Kerry was among ministers from 20 countries at a Rome conference aimed at maximising the pressure to end the chaos that has engulfed the North African state since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Qadhafi, Agence France-Presse reported.

“Conflict and instability in Libya have gone on for too long. Broad participation here reflects international support for a unified, secure and stable Libya,” AFP quoted Kerry as saying in a tweet from inside the meeting.

The ministers were joined in the afternoon by 15 Libyan officials representing political factions in the country’s rival parliaments, an internationally recognised one based in Tobruk and an Islamist-backed assembly in the capital Tripoli.

The Libyan delegates included at least four members of the Tripoli-based parliament and three from its Tobruk rival, along with other political figures.

Representatives of both assemblies have tentatively agreed to sign the UN plan in Morocco on Wednesday but there are doubts about whether they can carry their supporters with them, according to AFP.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Judeh held talks with Federica Mogherini, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

The two officials discussed ties and the latest regional developments, Petra reported.