Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 April 2015
203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he proposes to raise the ongoing crisis in Libya at the next European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13744/15]
View answerI expect that there will be a discussion of the crisis in Libya at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council and I will participate in that discussion. At the March meeting of the Council, High Representative Mogherini was invited to work on possible EU actions to support a government of national unity, in case such a government is agreed at the UN brokered talks. Regrettably, no such agreement has yet been forthcoming since Libya was last discussed at the Council.
However, the UN Special Representative Bernardino Leon has said that ‘very important progress’ has been made in the most recent round of talks held last week.
I hope that the talks soon continue so that the progress made heretofore can be translated into an agreement which can guarantee a better future for the people of Libya.
I call on all parties in Libya to engage constructively to this end, including by observing an immediate ceasefire. This is the only way we can fill the political and security vacuum in Libya and restore the rule of law in the country.
