The Deputy Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Koury, has sent a message to Libyans outlining the nature of her duties in her first speech since assuming her position to succeed the outgoing UN envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily.
Bathily submitted his resignation in mid-April citing the failure of his initiative to bring the five main parties in Libya to a negotiating table to resolve the problems that prevented holding elections in 2021.
In a video message on X platform, Koury has stressed that Libya, with its rich and diverse cultural fabric, has a special status, which will be an incentive for her to carry out the mission that Libyans expect from the United Nations.
Koury added that until the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General, UNSMIL would remain committed to supporting Libyans in sparing the country the dangers of division, violence, and wasting resources by facilitating a comprehensive political process owned and led by the Libyans themselves.
She said that she was committed to the support of the holding of comprehensive, free and fair national elections to restore legitimacy to Libyan institutions, stressing that UNSMIL would continue to support a comprehensive national reconciliation process with all partners, and work with Libyans to fully and sustainably implement the ceasefire agreement, address the spread of weapons, and improve the situation of human rights and the rule of law.
“The Libyan people have suffered enough from the absence of stability and development, and today they face difficult living conditions. It is time to put an end to this suffering.” She said, calling on Libyans to work together and with UNSMIL for the unity, sovereignty, stability and prosperity of Libya.
