Cairo preparing to host Libya Reconciliation Conference

Mustafa Kamel

Talks between Libyan rivals in the Moroccan city of Bouznika are stalling.

The Libyan rivals have postponed the second round of their talks. Moroccan authorities attributed the postponement of the talks to what they described as “logistical” reasons.

The postponement of the talks will give those involved enough time to reach a common ground, they said.

Cairo prepares, meanwhile, to receive Libyan rivals who will hold talks in the Egyptian capital sometime in the first half of October. Dignitaries from all parts of Libya will participate in the talks, in a conference given the name “Libyan Reconciliation Conference”.

Problems

This is the second time the second round of talks between the Libyan rivals is postponed in Bouznika.

The talks are taking place between delegations from the eastern Libya parliament and State Council, an affiliate of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli.

Moroccan authorities said the talks were postponed to open the door for discussions on article no. 15 of the political agreement signed by eastern and western Libya almost five years ago.

The new round of talks between the Libyan rivals will not discuss essential issues. The rivals are only supposed to approve the points they agreed previously.

According to a report by the Saudi news channel, al-Arabiya, the State Council has increased the members of its delegation to 13 from five previously.

Most of the new members are affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Arabiya said.

However, the eastern Libya parliament kept the number of the members of its delegation at five.

Cairo conference

Organizers of the Libya Reconciliation Conference keep preparing for the conference. Attending the gathering will be dignitaries from all parts of Libya, according to Sheikh Hassan Mabrouk, a member of the committee preparing for the conference.

He said the conference will be the most important, given the fact that it will bring all Libyan parties together.

It will aim to end differences between the Libyans, Hassan said.