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<p>The training of Libyan troops under the General Purpose Force initiative, supported
by the UK, US, Italy, and Turkey and other international partners, is aimed at supporting
a peaceful transition to an open, democratic, stable and secure Libya. It forms part
of the wider international effort on long term security sector reform to bring the
use of force under Libyan Government control and assist with disarming, disbanding
and reintegrating armed groups in Libya.</p><p>The Libyan Government requested that
Libyan troops were trained outside Libya to allow the creation of a force that was
geographically representative of Libya and away from the influence of armed groups
in Libya in order to protect its neutrality. Training in Libya would have entailed
considerable expense and required the deployment of significant numbers of UK troops
into a security environment in which we could not guarantee their safety.</p><p>The
MOD considered a number of alternative training locations, including UK sovereign
bases overseas and in partner countries. Training in the UK offered the most rapid,
effective way of meeting the Libyan Government's requirement, and at the lowest cost.</p><p>The
Army has been providing a challenging training programme to the Libyan General Purpose
Force since mid June and the majority of recruits have responded positively to the
training despite the ongoing political uncertainty in Libya. They have reached a competent
standard and are capable of fulfilling a number of roles on their return. However,
as the Prime Minister has recognised, there have been disciplinary issues, some affecting
the local community which are completely unacceptable and a matter of regret. For
these reasons, the Government agreed with the Libyan Government to bring forward the
training completion date.</p><p>A team has been set up to produce for the Defence
Secretary before Christmas an objective report into the GPF training. It is led by
an MOD senior civil servant who was not involved in the delivery, supported by a senior
civil servant loaned from another Government Department to provide an additional element
of independence and challenge.</p><p>The UK remains committed to supporting the Libyan
authorities and people as they work to establish stability and security across the
country. The immediate priority must be agreement to a political settlement and the
Prime Minister's Special Envoy to Libya, Jonathan Powell, is playing an active role
in supporting UN-led mediation efforts to this end.</p>
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