Conference held to discuss support for new unity government
(12 Apr 2016) LEAD IN: Support for Libya's new government is the subject of an international conference in Tunisia. Representatives from various organisations and countries have been meeting to discuss assistance for the troubled country. STORY-LINE: Libya's situation is at the heart of a conference in Gammarth, 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Tunis. Representatives from more than 15 financial institutions, international and regional organisations are here, as well as delegates from over 40 Arab and Western countries. Their aim is to discuss assistance for the war-torn country's new unity government. But the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) still faces strong opposition and its Deputy Prime Minister is concerned that support for it could be lost. "We're aware that the popular support to the Government of National Accord that we've seen and that we continue to see these days can not last much longer if we don't succeed and answer quickly to the necessary and urgent needs," says Musa Al-Koni. The GNA is seen by many Western nations as the best hope for ending Libya's chaos and uniting all factions against increasingly powerful extremist groups. Fayez Serraj, the head of the unity government, arrived in Tripoli by sea on March 30. A rival government backed by Islamists resigned a week later. A third rival government is based in Libya's far east. Christian Turner, Director General, Middle East and Africa at the UK Foreign Office, says the international community must be ready to provide "concrete assistance" to the GNA. The new government has a lot to deal with: the economy is worsening in the wake of falling oil revenues, and it faces a serious security situation with the rise of an Islamic State group affiliate. But some delegates warn against trying to do too much. "We're not trying to do lots of things not very well, we're trying to do a small number of projects to meet those priorities but to do them effectively," says Peter Millet, British Ambassador to Libya. Over 170 offers of assistance projects will be discussed today (Tuesday), focusing on issues such as the infrastructure, the refugees, justice reform, as well as the economy and security. The conference comes as Italy's foreign minister arrived in Tripoli on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a European official to Libya since the head the unity government took up residence in the capital. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
