UN's Ban makes unannounced visit to Libya

UN's Ban makes unannounced visit to Libya

2011-11-03 07:00:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

TRIPOLI (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, along with the President of the UN General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, arrived in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Wednesday on an unannounced visit.

The visit comes less than two weeks after Libyan transitional authorities declared the full liberation of the North African nation, bringing the eight-month-long civil war to an end. It also comes just two days after the new authorities elected their interim Prime Minister, Abdurrahim El-Keib.

During their brief visit to the country's capital of Tripoli, Ban and Al-Nasser offered the UN's full support and congratulated the Libyan leadership and people on their successes. They met with the Chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdel Jalil, PM El-Keib, and other representatives.

"We are here together to send our strong support and admiration and respect for all your heroic struggles to achieve democracy and freedom," Ban said during a press conference in Tripoli. "I salute the brave people of Libya. You have paid a heavy price for freedom. To the families of those who died in liberating your country, please accept my deepest condolences and sympathy."

The NTC declared the full liberation of the country last month, just days after the death of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The announcement brought an eight-month-long conflict to an end which began when rebels rose up against Gaddafi's regime, leaving tens of thousands of people killed.

Ban said he held a 'good and very productive' meeting with the NTC officials. "All expressed a clear commitment to building a democratic Libya, grounded in respect for human rights and the dignity of every woman, man and child," he said. "The new Libya aspires to be a nation free from fear, free from injustice and free from the oppression of the past. The United Nations will be your partner in turning those hopes to reality."

He added: "The path to democracy is not easy. Building a state with effective and accountable institutions takes time. But the Libyan people have shown that they have the skills, resources, determination and will to rise to these challenges."

The UN Secretary-General previously appointed Ian Martin as Special Representative for Libya to lead the UN's ground mission to support the Libyan people and their authorities as they work to rebuild the country and prepare for national elections.

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