Cyprus taking part in Conference on Libya for first time

Cyprus will participate for the first time in the Conference on Libya, which French President Emmanuel Macron has convened in Paris, government spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, said on Wednesday.

According to a presidency announcement, in statements to the media Pelekanos said that President Nicos Anastasiades leaves on Wednesday for Paris to participate in the 4th Paris Peace Forum, the Conference on Libya and a dinner hosted by Unesco director-general, Audrey Azoulay.

As regards the Peace Forum, Pelekanos noted that participants will, among others things, look into international initiatives to address the social and economic repercussions of the pandemic, the need to maintain international cooperation to the benefit of world peace, global governance in the health sector, climate change, cybersecurity, fighting fake news and threats against journalists, gender equality and other issues.

The spokesman also said that the president will participate on Friday in the Conference on Libya, which Macron has convened and in which Cyprus will have the opportunity to participate for the first time.

He said that participants in the conference will discuss, among others, the withdrawal of foreign troops and the political transition in the country, in view of the elections to be held in Libya in December.

The spokesman said the president would attend a dinner which the Unesco director-general will host for the heads of state, in the framework of the 41st Unesco General Conference