The State Secretary for Foreign Affairs (SAEX), Fernando Valenzuela, has participated in an International Conference on Libya in Palermo, which was convened by Italy in a restrictive format and in which over thirty countries and international organisations participated. The Libyan delegation was comprised of the President of the Presidency Council, Mr Serraj, the President of the House of Representatives, Mr Saleh, the President of the High Council of State, Mr Mishri, as well as representatives of the Libyan Army.

The essential objective of this conference, which is the continuation of the conference held in Paris last 29 May, was to highlight the unity and cohesion of the international community on Libya and the support of the Action Plan of the special representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Ghassan Salame, which has been reviewed on the basis of his speech before the Security Council last 8 November.

In his speech, Valenzuela reiterated Spain’s permanent commitment to Libya, as well as the continued support of the main role of the United Nations in the Libyan crisis. The State Secretary highlighted the need to overcome the current status quo by means of the commitment of the Libyan agents that may enable the termination of the transition process in an inclusive way in pursuit of the stability, democracy, unity and prosperity to which the Libyan people aspire. Spain will continue to support the efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy in order to foster the improvement of security, the economic reforms and the political process, including a National Conference and the establishment of an electoral timetable for spring 2019.

Finally, Valenzuela ended his speech by noting the need to pay special attention to issues related to human dignity, such as the situation in prisons, the empowerment of women and migratory issues, stressing the recent increase of migration flows towards our country.

 -NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-