The EU Foreign Affairs Council Monday welcomed the holding of the UN-facilitated Libyan political dialogue process started in Geneva.
"The EU believes that it is important for this process to be as inclusive as possible so that all Libyans feel represented by the decisions there adopted," said the Council which discussed Libya in its meeting here today in a statement.
It stressed that "there is no military solution to this conflict. Only a political solution can provide a sustainable way forward and contribute to peace and stability in Libya. It is critical at this stage to have an unconditional ceasefire that it is respected and upheld by all sides." The EU reiterated "its readiness to introduce as soon as it is deemed necessary, restrictive measures against spoilers of the dialogue process in line with UNSCR 2174 which allows for the listing of individuals who threaten the peace, stability or security in Libya, or who undermine its political transition." "Those responsible for violence and those who obstruct or undermine Libya's democratic transition must face consequences for their actions," it noted.
The statement condemned all forms of terrorism, including the attack against the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli on 27 January, and reiterated that terrorism has no place in the future of a peaceful and democratic Libya.
The EU welcomed the public statements of support for the UN-facilitated Libyan political dialogue from the African Union and the League of Arab States and encouraged neighbours and regional partners to engage constructively in support of the UN coordination efforts.
The Council repeated "its call on external parties to refrain from actions that might exacerbate current divisions and undermine Libya's democratic transition, to strictly respect the arms embargo, and to fully support the UN-led dialogue process."