Kobler: “The Situation is anarchic”

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Libya

Kobler: “The Situation is anarchic”

The Situation in Libya is chaotic. And the exploits of the Islamic state. A government of national unity to the country stability. “We need to take a first step”, says the UN special envoy.

DW: After the fall of longtime ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi five years ago, there were great hopes about the Libyan future. Now sinks the country in Chaos. The international community has failed?

Martin Kobler: The international community has certainly made a mistake after 2011, as the country alone has left and after the fall of Gaddafi said that Libyans should be the ‘Follow-Up’ of the Revolution alone shall bring to pass. This has obviously not worked. The were mistakes and I believe that we recognize today all. Now it is about the to repair and a
Government of national unity, the Parliament in Tobruk and its headquarters eventually in Tripoli. Yes, the country has been left alone, but no, it is not yet too late. Now you have to try with all our might, the country from Chaos and anarchy, to get out and back together. And we do that. Since we support the Libyans in this very difficult process.

Russia Today reported in these days that the EU is a puppet government and troops on the ground in Liyben want to use. What is it about these assumptions?

I believe that foreign ground troops are on the Agenda of anyone. Perhaps it is a matter of now training to organize for a new Libyan security structure that needs to be built up. Because that is the most pressing Problem is that in a country of Chaos, in a Land of militias and a country of anarchy and lawlessness safety. That goes with a unified army, a unified, non-fragmented police. And should a government decide the foreign aid to take advantage of, then it is their sovereign right.

You have in front of international air strikes on the Terrormiliz Islamic state (IS) in Libya warned, as long as the desired unity government is not inserted. You miss not the Chance, the IS in time out of action?

I totally agree with those who say that the IS needs to be stopped. And with the IS, with the ‘Daesh’, and other Islamist groups such as Ansar al-Sharia and Al-Qaeda, you can’t negotiate, because there can be only a military solution. This is completely clear. But this must first find a solution to the Libyans themselves. You must own a security, with the you are able to ground the Goings-on of the IS to stop. The IS stretches ever-farther to the East, West and South. You can’t just sit there and watch. On the other hand, it is also important that the political process goes on. There must be a government of national unity will be formed, and these must then to Tripoli to go. There must be a structure to be built. And the Libyan security forces can then the IS even combat – when the sovereign government would, even with the help of foreign aid.

Countries such as the USA and Italy, brokered last December between the Libyan warring parties to a peace plan on the way to bring

How you want the different tribes in Libya in the political process?

It is important that one of the tribes, but also the municipalities and cities in the political process. This happens indeed in other countries as well. We have as the United Nations, also has great experience in Afghanistan, where there is also a Parliament, but where there is also the ‘Loja Dschirga’, the Assembly of the elders. We work very much with the tribes, particularly in the East of Libya. Then there are other minorities: the Tebu, and Tuareg. You are in the South involved with and operate partially human trafficking. It is very important that there is no staatsfreien spaces. I admit that the Situation is difficult, confusing, complex, chaotic and anarchic. But the longest journey begins with the first step. If one says, it is a difficult Situation and clearly, then it is also not a solution. That’s not to passivity seduce the opposite. The need for action, so that you have a first step, even if it is difficult.

What happens with the followers of the former ruler Gaddafi? How will the government be integrated?

The current list of government sees some members of the old guard of Gaddafi. But it must also be clear – this is an International principle of the United Nations -that it for serious human rights Violations and war crimes is no Excuse. These crimes must be prosecuted and the perpetrators held accountable. There are in all totalitarian regimes, people who have no blood on their hands, and in our Jargon this is called ‘Transitional Justice’, transitional justice. You have the national reconciliation process. Just so the Land can again be merged. And the new government has indeed
in your list of some of the Ministers, a function which under Gaddafi had.

Is there not a risk that IS connecting?

There is always a danger that elements of the IS connecting. We must not forget that the Islamic state in Libya to 70, 80 per cent made up of foreigners – but not from Libyans. These are people who come from outside. You have the economic Situation to improve, so especially the youth not to IS overflows. It’s not about the old guard. It involves many young people, the no perspective, when you are not there. And 95 percent of the population to stand behind the Libyan political agreement and they stand behind a government of national unity, if it is formed. All the people are tired: they are tired of the civil war; they are tired of the struggle and are tired of always have to fear for your personal safety and that of your children on the way to school kidnapped. The must have an end. And since the Parliament in Tobruk over the own shadow jump, with the Ping-Pong to stop. Until now still no solution. The government of national work must now get to work, and in Tripoli and fight to make sure we.

Martin Kobler is the UN special envoy for Libya. Previously, it was the German Diplomat, head of the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ‘Monsuco’.

The Interview was conducted by Carole Assignon.