A recent demonstration in Tripoli calling for the removal of the Libyan parliament. Photo: Reuters

All parties to the Libyan conflict will meet today for talks supported by the United Nations in a town near Tripoli.

Malta – one of the first to call for the UN’s intervention to bring stability in war-torn Libya – has welcomed the news and called for support from the international community.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it has been confirmed that talks between all interested parties in the Libyan conflict will start today in Gadames, an oasis town to the southwest of Tripoli.

The talks will be held under the aegis of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and on the initiative of the United Nations Secretary General Special Representative, Bernardino Leon.

The government congratulated Mr Leon for his “unwavering efforts in bringing all parties in the Libyan conflict to the negotiating table”, and said it supported him.

The ministry added that this opportunity, however, needed to be sustained by the international community.

“Malta strongly appeals to all Libyans, particularly political leaders in Libya, to show maturity and leadership so that the people and country will start their recovery to progress and development.

“Malta believes that political transition can only be achieved through compromise and understanding,” it said.

In the meantime, Malta will continue standing by the “friendly and neighbourly Libyan people”. It will continue to keep its embassy open in Tripoli to demonstrate solidarity with all Libyans.

Malta believes that political transition can only be achieved through compromise

A spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister noted that Malta was among the first to have asked for UN support.

In July, during a meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron just before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the UN must be prepared to help the Libyan people.

The two were discussing possible solutions to instability in Libya and Dr Muscat said the inter­national community, through the UN, had to be prepared to intervene if necessary in order to restore security.

Dr Muscat reiterated his call on Friday when he was addressing the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Libyans could only begin to find hope for a bright future with the help of the international community, and the UN, he said, could and must provide capacity-building and security to bring about stability and prosperity.

The repercussions of the crisis were not only severe for the Libyans themselves and their immediate neighbours. The international community could not risk a takeover of the country by extremists, he said.

Opposition spokesman Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday said the Nationalist Party welcomed the news as well, noting that the on­going conflict needed a peaceful resolution that included the participation of all the parties.

Libya, still fresh out of the revolution that toppled the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, has been torn apart by fighting between rival militias and an unstable government is unable to impose order.