Fri 23 October 2020:
The UN on Friday said the two sides in the talks have reached the “historic achievement” with an immediate permanent ceasefire deal across the war-torn North African country.
Stephanie Turcos Williams, who heads the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said the Libyan parties reached an agreement for a “permanent” cease-fire in all areas of the country.
“Today is good day for the Libyan people,” said Williams at a news conference.
As the parties were signing the agreement, UNSMIL released a statement, saying: “Good news for Libyans.”
“The 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission talks in Geneva today culminate in a historic achievement as Libyan teams reach a permanent cease-fire agreement across Libya. This achievement is an important turning point towards peace and stability in Libya,” the UN mission said.
“The road to a permanent ceasefire deal was often long and difficult,” said Williams in a press conference in Geneva, noting that there’s a “great deal of work” to do in the coming weeks to implement the commitments.
She expressed hope the agreement will succeed ‘in ending the suffering of Libyans and allowing those displaced by the conflict to return to their homes.”
On Wednesday, Williams had said the two warring factions agreed on issues that “directly impact the lives and welfare of the Libyan people,” citing agreements to open air and land routes in the country, to work to ease inflammatory rhetoric in Libyan media and to help kickstart Libya’s vital oil industry.
Flight from Tripoli to Benghazi
Meanwhile, first commercial passenger flight in more than a year from Tripoli landed in the eastern city of Benghazi on Friday as an apparent part of the deal.
In Geneva, UN’s Williams hailed the agreement in a live broadcast after the signing.
“The road was long and difficult at times. Your patriotism was your way forward and you were able to reach a ceasefire agreement,” she said following the ceremony.
Today is a good day for the Libyan people,” she also said, adding that she hoped the deal would allow displaced people and refugees to return to their homes.
Libya has been racked by conflict for nearly 10 years, since the overthrow and killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising.
Since then, Libya has been dominated by armed groups, riven by local conflicts and divided between the two bitterly opposed administrations.
Hopes for a solution rose after the two warring factions in August separately announced they would cease hostilities.
