VOA标准英语2011--Libya Conference Opens With Call for Cea

African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping has opened an international conference on Libya with a call for an immediate 1 end to hostilities 3 and dialogue between the Gadhafi government and rebels. But a hoped-for appearance by a Libyan rebel representative failed to materialize.

The meeting brings together the main players in effort to prevent hostilities in Libya from descending 4 into full-scale civil war.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was represented, as were as all permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Libya's North African neighbors, along with partners in the coalition 5 imposing 6 the no-fly zone. Moammar Gadhafi sent a five-member delegation 7 led by the speaker of the People's Congress.

The main disappointment was the absence of the anti-Gadhafi rebels. A senior African diplomat 8 who could not be identified under briefing rules said a rebel representative had refused to take part in talks unless Gadhafi's ouster was a pre-condition.

The Addis Ababa meeting was convened 9 partly to allow the African Union to take the lead in settling the Libyan crisis. A western diplomat deeply involved in the negotiations 10 privately 11 lamented 12 what he called "Africa's tragic 13 absence at the table" in recent negotiations in Paris and elsewhere.

Conflicted stance

Reuters

Destroyed military vehicles are seen at a naval 14 military facility after last night's coalition air strikes in People's Port in eastern Tripoli, March 22, 2011

The African Union's conflicted stance on Libya was illustrated 15 this month when the continental 16 body avoided endorsing 17 a no-fly zone, even as all three African members of the U.N. Security Council voted for it.

AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping opened Friday's session with a call for moving from the military to the political track. He called for urgent talks between the Gadhafi government and rebels aimed at establishing a democratic government.

He said the solution lies in a dialogue on political reforms that would eliminate the causes of conflict that are tearing the country apart.

Cease-fire

Ping called on the international community to settle its differences and work together to reach a consensus 18 on a lasting 19 solution to Libya's turmoil 20. He said the first step, however, is a cease-fire.

He said urgent African action must involve an immediate cessation of hostilities, allowing humanitarian 21 agencies to help civilians 22 in desperate need, protecting foreign nationals, and attacking the root causes of the crisis.

The African Union earlier appointed a panel comprising five heads of states and Chairman Ping to try to mediate 2 between the Gadhafi government and the rebels. The panel had planned to visit Tripoli and Benghazi early in the week, but was denied permission after the no-fly zone was imposed and air strikes began.

The panel is still active, however, and AU diplomats 23 say the influence of its members could be useful in negotiations with the mercurial 24 Mr. Gadhafi.