"In the aftermath of the massacre of civilians by an armed brigade in Tripoli, I urge all in Libya to abstain from violence in the search for their goals, whatever the nature. The Libyan people have fought valiantly to oust a dictator that doomed the country for over forty years and should now be living in security and freedom while building democratic governance. Yet, the absence of a State security apparatus and the occupation of that vacuum by armed militia infiltrated by criminals and terrorists is fuelling the escalation of violence, leading to over 40 people killed in the last days. One more is definitely one too many.

I urge also all the international actors on the ground, and most particularly the EU and its Member States, to coordinate their actions to help Libya out of the spiralling violence which will only bring in more violence and instability and, undoubtedly, jeopardizes the constitutional process leading up to national elections, making governance ever more elusive.

In particular, European and other international actors in Libya must invest their effort in assisting Libya to bring about urgently SSR (Security Sector Reform) and DDR (Demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration). These two vectors of post-conflict strategy need to run in parallel and in synergy to be effective and mutually reinforcing. The EU has specific responsibilities in ensuring effective support to the Libyan people, responding to the Libyan calls and helping the Libyan authorities in identifying their structural and institutional needs. The Libyan Armed Forces and Police need training, need it urgently and need it to take place in Libyan territory now. For this, EU and EU Member States must work together and in coordination. By continuing not to do so, EU Member States are also putting at risk the lives of European personnel in Libya."

Libyan security is, in all accounts, European security".

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