Officer-in-Charge/Mission Coordinator of the UN Support Mission in Libya Raisedon Zenenga met in Tripoli on Tuesday with members of the Joint Military Committee (5+5) from the western region.

"The meeting came after Mr. Zenenga’s discussions with the eastern members of the JMC in Benghazi last week about the measures announced in their statement of 9 April, including a decision to suspend their work," the UNSMIL explained.

Zenenga conveyed to the members of the JCM West concerns of their eastern counterparts about the current situation and the impact on livelihoods in the east.

For their part, members of the western JMC members briefed Zenenga on their recent engagement with the eastern side and their efforts to have some of their requests addressed.

They expressed their concern about the implications of the measures announced by the eastern members, including the suspension of oil production which has now been applied, and hoped for the return of the committee's work soon.

In this context, the UNSMIL said that the JMC western members stressed the importance of avoiding politicization of the work of the JMC, which could undermine the collective achievements of the 5+5 JMC, as they expressed their appreciation to their counterparts in the east.

Zenenga reiterated the UNSMIL commitment to continue efforts to facilitate a solution to the issues raised by the eastern party, which it said places the work of the JMC and the progress made on the security track at risk.