Those participating in the meeting issued a joint communiqué supporting and corroborating the conclusions of the conference in Madrid last September 17. The most important points in the communiqué are: calling for an immediate ceasefire; recognition of the House of Representatives that was created after the latest elections as the only legitimate legislative authority in Libya; support for the efforts made by the Special United Nations Representative; rejection of any foreign encroachment, and a request to the House of Representatives to express its confidence in a national unity government which is to lead a reconciliation process that ends with a new constitution enacted with the broadest possible consensus.

A very precise road map to achieve these objectives was agreed upon at this meeting. The process is to continue on the date of September 26, 2014, with a meeting amongst Libya’s neighboring countries in New York. On September 29, the parties involved in the Libyan crisis are convening, having been called by the Special Representative of the United Nations. In the month of October, Algiers will be hosting a meeting amongst the representatives of its neighboring countries and all of the Libyan parties. Last of all, the road map foresees the holding of a meeting in Madrid, within a time period of no more than sixty days as of today’s date, with the participation of the thirteen countries involved in the process.

Minister García-Margallo referred to the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991, which marked the beginning of the Oslo negotiations, and declared his well-grounded hope that the process, through dialogue amongst the parties and with the support of its friendly neighboring countries, will end with reconciliation and peace in Libya.

The Minister underlined the vital importance for Spain held by stability in Libya, due to its implications in terms of regional security, controlling irregular immigration and the fight against the trafficking of human beings, the tragic consequences of which we witnessed very harshly this last summer, and energy security, always important, but even more so given the current situation of tension in Eastern Europe, causing doubts about the security of the energy supply.

Spain trusts that the future conference in Madrid will constitute an important step towards bringing peace and stability to one of the many focal points of tension currently threatening international security. The format chosen for the process is the appropriate one, and the will of its neighbors and other friendly countries of Libya is clear to promote understanding and reconciliation between the different sectors and territories within that country.