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Libya Conference Opens With Call for Cease-Fire

   Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa  March 25, 2011
   African  Union  Commission Chairman Jean Ping arrives to address media
   before  making  a  statement on Libya to students, in Paris, March 24,
   2011

Photo: AP

   African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping

   African   Union   Commission   Chairman   Jean   Ping  has  opened  an
   international  conference on Libya with a call for an immediate end to
   hostilities  and  dialogue  between the Gadhafi government and rebels.
   But  a hoped-for appearance by a Libyan rebel representative failed to
   materialize.

   The  meeting  brings  together  the  main players in effort to prevent
   hostilities in Libya from descending into full-scale civil war.
   United  Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was represented, as were
   as  all  permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Libyaâs North
   African  neighbors,  along with partners in the coalition imposing the
   no-fly  zone. Moammar Gadhafi sent a five-member delegation led by the
   speaker of the Peopleâs Congress.
   The  main disappointment was the absence of the anti-Gadhafi rebels. A
   senior  African  diplomat  who  could not be identified under briefing
   rules  said  a  rebel representative had refused to take part in talks
   unless Gadhafiâs ouster was a pre-condition.
   The Addis Ababa meeting was convened partly to allow the African Union
   to  take  the  lead  in settling the Libyan crisis. A western diplomat
   deeply  involved in the negotiations privately lamented what he called
   âAfricaâs tragic absence at the tableâ in recent negotiations in Paris
   and elsewhere.

   Conflicted stance

   Destroyed  military  vehicles  are  seen  at a naval military facility
   after  last  night's coalition air strikes in People's Port in eastern
   Tripoli, March 22, 2011

Reuters

   Destroyed  military  vehicles  are  seen  at a naval military facility
   after  last  night's coalition air strikes in People's Port in eastern
   Tripoli, March 22, 2011

   The  African  Unionâs  conflicted stance on Libya was illustrated this
   month  when the continental body avoided endorsing a no-fly zone, even
   as  all  three  African members of the U.N. Security Council voted for
   it.
   AU  Commission  Chairman Jean Ping opened Fridayâs session with a call
   for  moving  from  the  military to the political track. He called for
   urgent  talks  between  the  Gadhafi  government  and  rebels aimed at
   establishing a democratic government.
   He  said  the  solution  lies  in a dialogue on political reforms that
   would  eliminate  the  causes of conflict that are tearing the country
   apart.
   Cease-fire
   Ping  called  on the international community to settle its differences
   and  work  together  to  reach  a  consensus  on a lasting solution to
   Libyaâs turmoil. He said the first step, however, is a cease-fire.
   He  said  urgent African action must involve an immediate cessation of
   hostilities,  allowing  humanitarian  agencies  to  help  civilians in
   desperate  need,  protecting foreign nationals, and attacking the root
   causes of the crisis.
   The  African  Union earlier appointed a panel comprising five heads of
   states  and  Chairman  Ping  to  try  to  mediate  between the Gadhafi
   government  and the rebels. The panel had planned to visit Tripoli and
   Benghazi early in the week, but was denied permission after the no-fly
   zone was imposed and air strikes began. Â
   The panel is still active, however, and AU diplomats say the influence
   of  its members could be useful in negotiations with the mercurial Mr.
   Gadhafi.

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