The United Nations, along with its international partners, stands ready to support the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) in its endeavor to remove foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, to the maximum extent possible, including through the deployment of UN ceasefire monitors, who will work under your guidance and at your request to monitor and verify the withdrawal, said the UN envoy in a meeting for the 5+5 JMC in Geneva on Wednesday.
The 5+5 JMC convened in Geneva to discuss the development of a comprehensive action plan for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces from Libya, according to a statement by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
UNSMIL added that the meeting was held in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement of 23 October 2020, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, adding that it is also part of UNSMIL efforts to advance the intra-Libyan security track, in parallel to international efforts as part of the Berlin Conference on Libya.
UN envoy, Jan Kubis said the mercenaries and foreign forces’ file is a complex issue, as it is not only a concern for Libya, it is also a concern to regional countries and the international community.
UNSMIL, meanwhile, emphasized on the national ownership and leadership of the military and security, political and economic tracks as key to support the Libyans in regaining their sovereignty.
It applauded the patriotism and commitment of the 5+5 JMC members, encouraging them to seize this opportunity to produce the required action plan for the withdrawal of the mercenaries and foreign fighters and forces, which will also guide the international community’s support to the Libyan efforts to unify the military as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR) efforts in Libya, with a stabilizing impact on the region.
