Algeria and Mali expressed their “deep” concern over the deteriorating situation in Libya, calling Libyan parties to engage in “good faith” in the dialogue initiated by the United Nations Secretary General’s special representative for Libya, Bernardino Leon, said Tuesday a joint statement at the end of the working and friendship visit of Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to Algeria.

“As regards Libya, the two heads of state expressed their deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the country as it is threatening the foundations of the Libyan nation as well as the stability and security in the region,” said the statement.

In this regard, the presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Ibrahim Boubakar Keita underlined the “need to respect the ceasefire throughout the Libyan territory, and encourage the Libyan parties, except terrorist groups recognized as such by the UN, to engage in good faith in the dialogue initiated by the UN Secretary General’s special representative for Libya, Bernardino Leon, with a view to reaching a political solution that preserves the unity, the territorial integrity and the stability of the country, and the cohesion of its people.”

En ce qui concerne la situation au Moyen-Orient, les présidents Bouteflika et Keita “ont réaffirmé leur soutien à une solution juste et durable au conflit israélo-palestinien, garantissant le droit du peuple palestinien pour un État indépendant avec Al-Qods comme capitale,” indique le communiqué.