ATHENS — Greece welcomed Friday's announcement of a ceasefire in Libya, "in the hope that this is a positive first step towards a political solution through national reconciliation, free and fair elections under international observation," the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry expressed the hope that such a solution would bring peace, stability and full independence to the Libyan people, free from foreign interventions.

Greece steadily supports the resolution of the Libyan crisis through the UN Security Council Resolutions and the Berlin conference conclusions, it said, and is willing to contribute to Libya's future "based on international law and the long-term friendship of the Greek and Libyan people."