The international conference on Libya, which brought together Libyan parties and representatives of 19 regional and international organizations, was launched in Paris on Tuesday under the chairmanship of French President Emanuel Macron.
The French presidency called on the Libyan officials and international community to participate in implementing a comprehensive political roadmap to end Libya’s crisis which has severely affected the country and the region.
The presidency added that after seven years of tension and conflict, this conference aims at launching a new period of stability and cooperation, that is anticipated by the Libyans.
The High Council of State (HCS) voted on Monday to attend the Paris conference but on four conditions: the political deal signed in Skheirat in 2015 would be the legal framework of the initiative, elections wouldn't be held before a referendum on the constitution, the importance of military institutions operating under civilian authority, and implementing a prompt ceasefire in the eastern city of Derna and lifting the siege.
Paris invited the neighboring countries of Libya in addition to Morocco, UAE and Qatar to the conference which also witnessed the participation of the African Union (AU), Arab League and European Union in addition to the four permanent UN Security Council members (China, US, UK and Russia) plus Italy and Germany.
In return, 13 armed groups in western Libya cast doubt on the talks in Paris, saying the French initiative doesn’t represent them.
They declared their opposition to "any initiative aimed at normalizing military rule".
Further, the army continued to advance towards Derna in an operation aimed at expelling extremist groups there.
