Before the meeting, the Federal Chancellor said she was grateful that Secretary of State Blinken was taking part in the second Berlin Conference on Libya. She said it was very important “for us to send out a united signal to Libya that a) we want the Libyan people to decide on their own future, but b) there are international partners ready to support them on this path, too”. Merkel went on to say that there was a long history of sound German-American relations to build on, adding that she was pleased to see “the United States back on the multilateral stage”.

Second Berlin Conference on Libya

The second Berlin Conference on Libya follows the first one held on 19 January 2020. The participants aim to take stock of the progress made in bringing peace to Libya as well as looking at the next steps required to stabilise the country in the long term. One particular issue will be the national elections scheduled for 24 December 2021 and the agreed withdrawal of foreign troops and mercenaries from Libya. Libya is represented at the conference in Berlin by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, leader of the country’s interim government.

First Berlin Conference on Libya: At the invitation of Germany, the governments of a total of twelve states took part in the first Berlin Conference on Libya on 19 January 2020, which was also attended by the representatives of several international organisations. Participants agreed to commit to Libyan sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity, emphasising that only a Libyan-led political process would end the civil war and establish lasting peace. They also pledged to comply with the UN arms embargo and no longer supply any party to the conflict in Libya with fighters or weapons. It was decided that the United Nations should play a central role in the ongoing internal political process in Libya.