Member of Misrata-Tawergha Reconciliation Committee, Mohammed Al-Dharat, has denounced the reaction of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya about signing the reconciliation accord between Misrata and Tawergha, describing it as "strange and unfavourable."
Al-Dharat clarified in a TV statement to Tanasuh TV that the UN mission was invited to attend the signing ceremony of the reconciliation accord, however, it was absent under the pretext of having reservations and comments on some of the terms of the accord.
“The UN mission‘s stance is strange. I am surprised over their interference in a matter related to Libyan traditions and customs.” He said.
Al-Dharat explained that the UN mission's stance at the beginning of the talks was encouraging and there was an initiative from the head of the mission Ghassan Salame in this regard.
He confirmed that Ghassan Salame was informed that the two parties have made a great progress in the process of reaching a real social reconciliation, but the UN mission had a strange request to postpone the signing of the accord without clarifying the reasons, pointing out that the request was rejected, especially that a date has already been set for the signing ceremony.
Meanwhile, the UN mission did not release any statement to welcome the peace accord. On Tuesday, the mission said in a tweet “UNSMIL takes note of the reconciliation efforts between the Misratan and Tawergha communities. UNSMIL calls on all parties to ensure a safe and dignified return of IDPs, in accordance with international human rights standards.”
Misrata and Tawergha signed on Sunday night a historic peace accord to end dispute between the two cities and allow Tawergha IDPs to return to their town, ending a seven-year long chapter of conflict and displacement.
