Call for US pressure to end the division
LIBYA – Writer and political analyst Kamel Al-Marash has called for US sanctions on those he regards as obstructing the “4+4” initiative in Libya, saying the political process has reached a pivotal stage that requires the intervention of the United States as, in his words, the sponsor that launched the initiative.
Tribute to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Operation Dignity
Al-Marash opened his phone interview on the Libya Al-Hadath channel’s news bulletin — followed and summarised by Al-Marsad — by paying tribute to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, his sons and his supporters who took part in Operation Dignity, which he said had led to the defeat of terrorism in Benghazi.
Awaiting the London and Berlin meetings
He argued that the upcoming meetings in London and possibly Berlin could show the initiative’s progress if its aims of forming a new Presidential Council and a new government were achieved.
US sanctions instead of the Security Council
He called for US sanctions rather than sanctions through the Security Council, arguing that Washington has legislation allowing it to act alone, while international disagreements and the veto could block any measures within the Council.
He said asset freezes, travel bans and other US measures could, in his assessment, deter spoilers and open the way to implementing the “4+4” agreement.
Call for a list of fewer than 30 names
Al-Marash urged the UN mission and the US administration to draw up a list of the names of those he accuses of obstruction, putting their number at fewer than 30 well-known figures in north-western Libya.
Accusations against parties, councils and formations
He directed accusations, as he characterised them, at High Council of State President Mohamed Tekala and Presidential Council President Mohamed Al-Menfi, at religious bodies including Dar al-Ifta, and at military councils and formations, some of which oppose unifying the country, including groups in Misrata, Zintan, Zuwara and Nalut and armed formations in Tripoli.
Al-Marash argued that a majority of Libyans support the initiative to an unprecedented degree, and that those he described as beneficiaries of continued chaos and corruption are obstructing the interests of about 7 million Libyans, calling on everyone to choose a peaceful settlement, unify the country and end the division.
