BUDAPEST, April 18 (Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told a Budapest news conference on Monday that the world organization has reached an agreement on a “humanitarian presence” in Tripoli.
Ban, addressing the media after a meeting with Hungarian President Pal Schmitt, said his special envoy to Libya Abdelilah al-Khatib and UN Under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Valerie Amos had reached the agreement while continuing to negotiate on the political situation.
Ban warned that once a ceasefire was reached, Libya would require wide-ranging efforts in peacemaking, peace building and reconstruction.
Ban sketched out the efforts of the UN World Food Program, the International Red Cross and other bodies to provide assistance in Libya, particularly in areas heavily-hit by fighting.
He said that the UN had three objectives in Libya: to achieve an immediate and effective ceasefire, to extend humanitarian assistance to all people in need, and to continue political dialogue and achieve a political resolution.
Ban thanked the European Union (EU) and Hungary as the EU president for their support, and said he was counting on the continued commitment of the EU.
Ban is on a three-day official visit to Budapest on the invitation of the Hungarian president, to hold talks with Hungary as the current EU president.
