The United Nations’ (UN) envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, extended on Thursday invitations to key Libyan institutional stakeholders to attend a meeting in the coming period to reach a settlement on the politically contested issues pertaining to the implementation of the electoral process.
UNSMIL said in a statement that Bathily had requested the institutional stakeholders to designate representatives to participate in a preparatory meeting, adding that the designated representatives of the Presidential Council, House of Representatives, High Council of State, Government of National Unity and the General Command of the Libyan National Army (Khalifa Haftar’s forces) would discuss the date, venue, and agenda of the meeting of their principals.
“They will also identify the outstanding issues that need to be resolved to enable the High National Elections Commission to commence the implementation of the electoral laws issued by the House of Representatives.” The statement said.
“For the first time since elections failed to proceed on 24 December 2021, Libya now has in place a constitutional and legal framework for the elections,” said Bathily, calling on the major actors “to move, in good faith, to the next stage in order to achieve our shared goal to deliver free, transparent and inclusive elections for the Libyan people.”
Bathily urged all stakeholders to redouble efforts to resolve the outstanding political issues through UN-facilitated dialogue, and in a spirit of compromise.
He also called on the stakeholders to show their full commitment to achieving national unity, peace and security in Libya, by engaging positively with his efforts to break the political deadlock.
