Excerpts from SRSG for Libya Martin Kobler after the Signing of the Libyan Political Agreement

18 Dec 2015

Excerpts from SRSG for Libya Martin Kobler after the Signing of the Libyan Political Agreement

Skhirat, Morocco 17 December 2015

This is indeed a day of hope, this is a day of hope for the people of Libya and I do congratulate the people of Libya for this achievement.

I am very grateful for the Kingdom of Morocco to have hosted the Skhirat process and also this event today.

This agreement was signed by many courageous men and women who risk a lot, I admire their dedication, I admire their courage.

Now, this is the beginning and the end at the same time, it is the end of the process of the negotiations of the Libyan Political Agreement, but it is also the beginning of a hard work and I stretch out my hands today to those who are not here in the room. The building above Libya requires an inclusive process, the working together of the Libyan men and women and young people in order to build up the country.

And It is important that those who are not here in Skhirat that they come, that they join the process.

I congratulate the new Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, but I also must say I don't envy you; there a heavy workload in front of the government and the United Nations stands ready to assist you to support and to accompany you on this way.

There is first the national reconciliation in the country, there is second the security situation in and I encourage an inclusive national security dialogue as soon as possible.

There is the problem of terrorism and the fight against Daesh; this has to be addressed on an urgent basis.

And there is the dire humanitarian situation in the country in particular in Benghazi, in the Cyrenaica. I met the Mayor of Benghazi yesterday, and he described the horrible situation and the many internally displaced people and refugees, this will be agenda of the new government, and I promised to the Mayor yesterday a reconstruction fund for Benghazi.

We will also pay particular attention to the south, and we encourage the government to go ahead also and to take of the problems of the south.

This has to start immediately and I feel very encourage by what the Libyans have done today here, and once again I appeal to the people of Libya to stand together, there is no problem without solution ... And I appeal to the mothers of Libya not to let their sons continue to die on the battlefields of Libya. I appeal to the young people to the men and women to the young men and women; you are the future of the country take the chance now to stand together and to work for a better prosperous secure Libya.