Washington, DC - The governments of France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States strongly condemn all acts of terrorism in Libya. The heinous murder of twenty-one Egyptian citizens in Libya by ISIL-affiliated terrorists once again underscores the urgent need for a political resolution to the conflict in Libya, the continuation of which only benefits terrorist groups, including ISIL.

Terrorism affects all Libyans, and no one faction can confront alone the challenges facing Libya. The United Nations-led process to establish a national unity government provides the best hope for Libyans to address the terrorist threat and to confront the violence and instability that impedes Libya’s political transition and development. The international community is prepared to fully support a unity government in addressing Libya’s current challenges.

Special Representative to the Secretary General Bernardino Leon will convene meetings in the coming days to build further Libyan support for a national unity government. We commend those parties that have so far participated in the talks and note the statements of support by the House of Representatives and Misratan Municipal Council and others for this process. We strongly encourage all parties, including individuals associated with the former General National Congress (GNC), to seize this opportunity to join the UN process in the coming days in a constructive spirit of reconciliation if they hope to shape Libya’s political future. The urgency of the terrorist threat demands swift progress in the political process, based on clear timelines.

Those who seek to impede this process and Libya’s democratic transition, four years after the revolution, will not be allowed to condemn Libya to chaos and extremism. They will be held by accountable by the Libyan people and the international community for their actions.