haftar describes skhirat as expired agreement
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

As it marks second year

Haftar describes Skhirat as expired agreement

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Haftar describes Skhirat as expired agreement

Libya’s National Army Commander Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar
Tripoli - Fatima Al Saadawy

Libya’s National Army Commander Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar announced on Sunday the expiry of the 2015 Skhirat Agreement and the end of the tenure of the UN-backed National Accord Government chaired by Fayez al-Sarraj.
 
The agreement, signed on December 17, 2015 in Morocco, under the auspices of the United Nations, stipulated the formation of a consensual government for a year-term, renewable only once.
 
Although the government’s tenure ended on Sunday, the UN Security Council has stressed that the Skhirat Agreement should remain the only framework to resolve the current crisis in Libya, until the holding of the general elections next year.
 
In a televised speech that took less than seven minutes, Haftar said: “The validity of the so-called political agreement - and all the bodies emanating from it – has expired.”
 
“The military institution will not submit to any party unless it has gained its legitimacy from the Libyan people,” he added.
 
Haftar went on to say: “We are fully obedient to the commands of the free Libyan people as they are the source of authority and the (real) decision makers.”
 
The field marshal underlined that the Libyan armed forces’ general command has been directly communicating with the international community to resolve the Libyan situation and has proposed initiatives to push the political process and hold general elections.
 
Brigadier Ahmad al-Mesmari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the army has been on alert for four years.
 
“We execute the orders of the people; whenever we are asked to intervene to resolve the matter and end the political chaos… we are ready,” he stated.
 
Sarraj, for his part, ignored the recent developments and considered that the Skhirat Agreement was “the only ground for achieving consensus.”
 
Following a surprise visit to Algeria, where he met with the Algerian prime minister, Sarraj stressed the Agreement “has the mechanisms to achieve consensus by solving any political obstacles”, rejecting a military solution to the crisis.
 
Tunisia hosted on Sunday evening a meeting between the foreign ministers of Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria to discuss the political process and the security situation in Libya.
 
The Tunisian foreign ministry said in a statement that the meeting was an opportunity to set the plan of action at the tripartite level for the next phase and to express support for the UN plan to achieve a political solution in the country.
 
UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame, anticipated Haftar’s speech by calling on all parties to listen to their citizens and refrain from any actions that could undermine the political process.
 
“Free and fair elections will usher Libya into institutional and political normalcy. It will provide the Libyan people with what they want most - predictable governance, decent living standards and dignity,” Salame said in a statement.
 
“The Action Plan, in all its stages, was, and still is, meant to prepare the proper conditions for free and fair elections. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has provided the needed technical support to the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and is intensively trying to establish the proper political, legislative and security conditions for elections to be held before the end of 2018,” he added.

Libya’s Skhirat agreement witnessed over the last two years a number of amendments and a surge in support.

Signed in Morocco on December 17, 2015 and under United Nations sponsorship, the Skhirat agreement went from what some considered a political ‘joke’ to having gained considerable support.

Others who said that the agreement was tailored to the Muslim Brotherhood’s taste now also show leniency towards negotiating within its framework. 

After continued talks throughout the remainder of 2015, a peace agreement between the two factions was signed on December 17 in Skhirat, Morocco. The agreement created a Presidential Council and the High Council of State and established the Government of National Accord.

Despite bipartisan support of the agreement, both factions also had members who did not support the deal and it was feared that well-armed militias would not comply to deal. After an endorsement by the United Nations Security Council, the GNA was almost immediately recognized by the international community as Libya’s legitimate government.

Observers believe that the House of Representatives, which is based in Tobruk (east of Libya) and headed by Aguila Saleh Issa, was the main source of objection to the Skhirat agreement.

Aguila Saleh recently said that the political agreement was not a "holy book" and could be amended, and all decisions issued by the presidential council were considered "invalid".

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

haftar describes skhirat as expired agreement haftar describes skhirat as expired agreement

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

haftar describes skhirat as expired agreement haftar describes skhirat as expired agreement

 



GMT 10:10 2017 Thursday ,09 February

3 Important Elements You Have to Consider

GMT 04:03 2017 Monday ,24 April

Bella Hadid ‘dying’ to visit Palestine

GMT 19:25 2016 Wednesday ,25 May

The Brooklyn Desk by Oeuf NYC

GMT 07:49 2018 Friday ,05 January

2 Russian servicemen killed

GMT 07:58 2018 Monday ,01 January

Italy orders N. Korea's envoy to leave

GMT 08:45 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

US military imagines war without GPS

GMT 17:26 2017 Sunday ,17 December

Putin thanks Trump for help in foiling attack plot

GMT 22:19 2017 Monday ,16 October

Cairo-hosted Fatwa conf. new contribution

GMT 02:27 2016 Friday ,10 June

Video hints Japan abetting illegal ivory trade

GMT 07:04 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

1,883 Bahrainis found jobs in March

GMT 14:24 2016 Tuesday ,22 November

Citi and JPMorgan top list of ‘globally banks’

GMT 21:43 2017 Friday ,01 September

People question Nazaruddin`s repatriation expenses

GMT 09:41 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

OIC concerned over violence in Mali

GMT 01:30 2017 Friday ,27 October

May22/Jun21

GMT 05:38 2016 Friday ,30 December

Dubai Airports divert 13 flights due to heavy fog

GMT 11:38 2017 Saturday ,14 January

Mexico names new ambassador to US

GMT 12:03 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Kuwait to mark World Water Day

GMT 15:00 2017 Wednesday ,27 September

HM King receives invitation from Egyptian President

GMT 02:45 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

President Bashir arrives in Chad

GMT 02:45 2017 Wednesday ,16 August

Turkmen President Visits Pakistan
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday