Leon: Talks on Libya making progress

BRUSSELS, March 23 (KUNA) -- The UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Libya Bernadino Leon Monday expressed his optimism that talks on the formation of a unity government in Libya could start soon if current talks in Morocco made progress.
"The political track in Morocco is progressing well. We could start this week, if things go well, discussing the unity government. We are making progress in the other political leaders track in Algeria," he told journalists ahead of a meeting of 34 Libyan mayors in Brussels.
"There is a chance that we have the first names for the unity government this week. It is going to be a difficult discussion. I would not like expectations to be too high. But there is a possibility and we will do our best," he noted.
"But this one here (in Brussels) is especially important. This can show the Libyan people that there are benefits for peace even before there is a final agreement," Leon said.
He said that the two-ay meeting in Brussels has two key goals, one is political and secondly providing humanitarian support to the citizens.
"If things go well here in Brussels it could give a very strong drive for peace in Libya," stressed the UN special envoy.
On her part, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told journalists that the EU and the UN are working on a daily basis on the Libyan issue.
"Solving the security problem in the cities is also a way of allowing to allow the political process to go on to succeed," she said.
"It is an international challenge and therefore our work is so important. It is a crucial issue for us Europeans," said the EU foreign policy chief.
"We are not preparing any kind of military intervention. Military intervention is not a solution to the Libyan crisis," she added. (end) nk.mt