ALGIERS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia agreed to support the implementation of the United Nations roadmap in Libya, while urging the Libyan warring parties to make further concessions to end the crisis since 2011.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in the capital Algiers on Monday night between Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel, his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui, over the recent political and security developments in Libya.
The Algiers Declaration, issued after the tripartite meeting, highlighted "the need to create necessary conditions to accelerate the implementation of the Plan of Action" presented by the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame.
The UN Security Council also discussed the Libyan crisis on Monday, where Salame presented a briefing on the progress of the implementation of the UN roadmap to bring back peace to this North African country.
Libya is preparing for several crucial ballots, including a referendum on a new constitution and parliamentary and presidential elections expected by the end of this year.
The three foreign ministers also urged Libya's warring parties to "overcome the current political stalemate" in a way that "preserves Libya's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity."
"The Libyan parties must assume their responsibilities and continue their engagement in good faith by establishing broad consensus that will pave the way for comprehensive national reconciliation," the declaration said.
It warned that delays in settling the crisis would bring further escalation, widen internal conflicts and spread violence and terrorism.
In his opening address, Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel expressed his country's conviction of "the unification of Libyan institutions, including the establishment of strong army and security services."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed the need to "end the long-suffering of Libyan people by providing them all the support" for "sustainable peace, stability and prosperity."
Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui highlighted the importance of avoiding the past mistakes in pushing forward the peace process in Libya.
It is the fourth ministerial meeting on Libya. The three foreign ministers have held the first one in Algiers in June 2017, the second one in Cairo in November, and the third one in Tunis in December.
The three ministers agreed to hold a fifth meeting in Cairo without providing a date.
These meetings are part of the periodic consultation between the three countries to help neighboring Libya end the decade-long civil war.
Since the fall of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, terrorist groups have become rampant in Libya over the lack of a unified army and security services.
