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PALERMO, Sicily (AP) – The US envoy to Libya said Tuesday that he was encouraged by the support of the Libyan factions and the international community to the organization of a national conference scheduled early 2019 to pave the way for greater stability and elections in this country without laws.
Ghassan Salame hailed the "stronger sound of unity" among the major regional players and "a much greater degree of conviviality" between his Libyan rivals, which he felt at a meeting of two days in Sicily.
"I therefore consider this conference a success and a milestone in our common struggle to bring peace, security and prosperity to the Libyan people," Salame said at a press conference.
Italy, a former oil-rich Libyan leader, had organized the meeting in hopes of helping Libya suppress Islamist militants and smuggling while pushing ahead with the US plan to improve security, economic and political problems of the country.
The summit was marked by the brutal withdrawal of Turkey, who objected to being excluded from the mini-summit organized by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday morning.
The mini-summit brought together key African, European and regional actors with US-backed Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and his rival General Khalifa Hifter, commander of the so-called Libyan National Army. based in eastern Libya.
"The informal meeting, which took place this morning with a number of actors and their presentation as eminent protagonists of the Mediterranean, is a very misleading and damaging approach that we vehemently oppose," he said. the press Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
"Turkey is leaving the meeting with deep disappointment," he said.
Conté said that he was personally sorry for the withdrawal, but that such reactions were to be expected given the sensitivity of the region.
Expectations for the meeting were limited, with the Hiftar camp making it clear that he was not attending the conference itself, but instead meeting with leaders from neighboring countries on the sidelines. Neither Hiftar nor Sissi nor Oktay posed for the group photo of the final conference.
Salame, however, is encouraged by the commitment made by Hiftar and Serraj to participate in the consultative conference in Libya scheduled for the first weeks of next year. The UK is seeking contributions from a wide range of Libyans on the way forward, but says the time has come for a wider group to develop a clear electoral calendar.
"I am more reassured about the convening and the possible success of this national conference," he said.
Libya sank into chaos after the 2011 uprising that overthrew and killed dictator Moammar Gaddafi, and is now ruled by rival administrations to the east and west, both of which are in danger. relying on militia support.
It has also become a haven for Islamic militants and armed groups, including several nationals of neighboring countries, who survive through looting and human trafficking, particularly in the south of the country.
The Italian anti-immigrant government is particularly keen to stem the network of migrants smugglers based in Libya, who have sent hundreds of thousands of potential refugees to Europe via Italy in recent years.
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Producer AP Maggie Hyde in Palermo; Brian Rohan in Cairo and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed.
