Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1304419
5 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 A permanent ceasefire agreement reached between Libya's two rival factions is wel- come news for the north African state and the Mediterranean region. e agreement brokered by the UN in Geneva last week appears to be holding even if fraught with uncertainty. e Government of National Accord, based in Tripoli, and the administration based in the eastern city of Benghazi, agreed to evacuate fighters from the frontlines and order foreign mercenaries to leave the country within three months. e rival factions also agreed to form a joint military force under a unified command to deal with violations of the ceasefire and a joint police control room to make security arrangements in those areas evacuated by soldiers and armed militias. e agreement is an important first step in re- storing security and stability in a country that has been riven by violence since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Only secure neighbourhoods and a system of centralised law and order will foster trust among Libyans after almost a decade of violence. e hope is that after security is restored, ri- vals can agree on a political roadmap that keeps the country's unity intact, while allowing Liby- ans to eventually choose their own leaders. It will not be an easy transition and one that requires all the international help it can get. e proxy war we have been witnessing in Lib- ya with the direct and indirect military partic- ipation of different countries on either side of the split has to end. On the contrary, these countries must support all efforts towards national unity in Libya. It is within this context that Malta can provide the safe space for dialogue and conflict resolu- tion between the different Libyan factions dur- ing this delicate transition period. It is in Malta's interest to have stability in its immediate neighbourhood, which is why being part of the ongoing dialogue matters. Admittedly, Malta may not have the econom- ic, military or diplomatic clout of much larger countries but it can enjoy moral clout as an honest broker even if this is confined to pushing Libya up the European agenda. With pressing problems on the EU's eastern border and the tensions in the eastern Mediter- ranean, Libya can easily slip under the radar. It has happened in the past and this is not some- thing Malta should accept. Stability in Libya is important to address the migration issue but not only. ere are scores of Maltese businesses that had commercial ties with Libya but lost everything when chaos descended on the north African state. Others have assets and ventures that are worthless or useless in the current circumstanc- es. Many of these companies will be willing to tap the potential of an emerging Libyan market. e national airline, Air Malta, which lost its lu- crative Tripoli route could also stand to benefit. Malta must not only view Libya from a mi- gration perspective but must strive for effective commercial, trade, educational, cultural and diplomatic ties. But for this to happen, a return to political and security stability in Libya is important. e glimmer of hope that Libyan leaders lit last week must not be allowed to be snuffed out by rogue forces that may stand to lose legitima- cy and power in a unified and stable country. Malta must play its part, limited as it may be, to ensure that this historic chance is not lost. A glimmer of hope in Libya 29.10.2020 The historic center of Benghazi, Libya, lays in ruins after years of conflict