The Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), along with senior EU officials, took part in a Ministerial conference on stability and development in Libya last week, organised by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García Margallo in Madrid.
The meeting, opened by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, aimed to address the deteriorating security situation in Libya and its impact and consequences on the neighbouring countries and on the whole Mediterranean region.
The Conference gathered Foreign Ministers from North Africa as well as high representatives of the EU, the Arab League, the African Union and the Union for the Mediterranean.
The Conference gave the opportunity to the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Abdelaziz, as well as to the new special envoy of the United Nations, Bernardino León, to give a detailed overview of the situation in Libya as well as their views on the way forward.
All participants expressed full support to the need of peace, stability and security in Libya. They also affirmed the commitment to work together to that effect.
Addressing the audience, UfM Secretary General Fathallah Sijilmassi underlined the importance of achieving stability and development in Libya to address national and regional challenges, acknowledging the very strategic role of Libya in the Mediterranean region: “Within the framework of its mandate, the UfM Secretariat stands ready to accompany and to contribute to the efforts of the international community for the stability and development of Libya,” he said.
(Source: EU Neighbourhood Info)
