Saturday 10 October 2015

From Tobruk to Tripoli via Benghazi and Misrata, objection to UN mediator is similar. "He changed agreement terms last. No solutions imposed from above "

At least on one point Bernardino Leon managed to get some form of consensus between the two rival leaderships in Tobruk and Tripoli: both reject firmly the formula for a national unity government. The road still looks like an uphill struggle for the Spanish diplomat, who for a year has been mandated by  UN to act as mediator to resolve Libyan crisis and lay the foundations for a strong central govt. Last night were held numerous events to contest his project.From Tobruk to Tripoli, via Benghazi and Misrata, basic objection is similar: not so much the content of the proposal of Leon, as his style of negotiator. "he changed unilaterally the terms of the agreements at the last minute. We do not want solutions imposed from above" contest all parties. 
A blow to European diplomacy, with  Italian head (although in Washington skepticism on Leon had been expressed for some time), which in recent months had placed high hopes in his draft  
Result seems obvious: Libyan crisis remains open and Leon does not seem capable to do much more. By October 20 his mandate should end; Leon is replaced with German Martin Kobler, who until now was head of the UN mission in Congo.
In Libya, one of most common comment is that just the need to hurry would push Leon to force the issue, with angry reaction of the already divided, varied and contentious faces of militias and Libyan tribes.
At heart of dispute would be the changes introduced by Leon announcement  last night, when Morocco (where he met Libyan representatives) provided the names of new Unity Govt leaders, which absorbs both National Congress of Tripoli, linked to Muslim Brotherhood, and the parliament of Tobruk recognized by a large part of the international community
 in fact since summer 2014 that Libya is torn between two warring governments. A situation that generates chaos among the hundreds of armed militias, promotes crime, blocking the national economy, paralyzing the activities of oil and gas, facilitates the penetration of Isis and violent jihadist groups. "This government will represent all Libyans finally, will be a new beginning!" He then said Leon in a fit of optimism. As well, the thrust harder against him came from Abdurrahman Sewehli, important exponent of Misurata, who has publicly rejected the offer to become chairman of the new Council of State, along with two deputy already appointed by Leon. "I was put in charge of an organism without power. These were not the terms, "said Sewehli to local television Al-Nabaa. It says in fact one of the agreements was that members of the new body would have to elect their leaders, which in turn would choose their employees. Signal of the crisis was also the announcement of Khalifa Haftar, the former general Gaddafi today defense minister in Tobruk, which has returned to promise belligerent that his soldiers "liberate Benghazi from fundamentalist militias within three weeks." A blow to the European diplomacy, with the Italian head (although in Washington skepticism of Leon had been expressed for some time), which in recent months had placed high hopes in its draft unitary government with patience and fabric determination UN envoy since the beginning of spring. The result seems obvious: the Libyan crisis remains open and Leon does not seem capable of being able to do much more. By October 20 should end its mandate and in its place is already expected the German Martin Kobler, who until now was head of the UN mission in Congo. In Libya, one of the most common comments it is that just need to hurry would push Leon to force the issue, engaging the angry reaction of the already divided, varied and contentious face of militias and Libyan tribes.At the heart of the dispute would be the changes introduced by the announcement of Leon last night, when Morocco (where he met Libyan representatives) has provided the names of the leaders of the new National Govt, which absorbs both National Congress of Tripoli, linked to Muslim Brotherhood, and Tobruk parliament recognized by a large part of international community.
Since summer 2014 Libya is torn between two warring govts. A situation that generates chaos among hundreds of armed militias, promotes crime, blocks national economy, paralyzes the activities of oil and gas, facilitates the penetration of DAESH (Isis) and violent jihadist groups.
"This government will represent all Libyans finally, will be a new beginning!''
Leon said in a fit of optimism.
First against him came Abdurrahman Sewehli, important exponent of Misurata, who publicly rejected the offer to become chairman of  new Council of State, along with two deputy already appointed by Leon. "I was put in charge of an organism without power. These were not the terms" said Sewehli to local TV Al-Nabaa.
In fact one of the agreements was that members of new body should elect their leaders, which in turn would choose their employees.
Crisis signal was also Khalifa Haftar announcement, the former general Gaddafi today defense minister in Tobruk, who has returned to his belligerent promise that his soldiers "liberate Benghazi from fundamentalist militias within three weeks."
Inshalla tamam but hopes are not high.

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