Russia and the United States were deadlocked Thursday over extending the United Nations mission in Libya, which ends January 31, with Moscow demanding the secretary-general’s American special advisor on Libya be replaced, diplomats said.
The vote on a resolution proposed by the United Kingdom to extend the Libya mission, UNSMIL, until September 15 had been planned for Thursday morning but was postponed indefinitely at the last minute.
Russia had intended to veto the text before proposing its own resolution for a vote, which could have been vetoed by the United States.
The Russian text, obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP), asks that “the Secretary-General appoint his Special Envoy without any further delay.” It also proposes extending the mission until April 30 when, according to Moscow, the political situation in Libya would become clearer.
UNSMIL expires Monday evening, which leaves some time to find a compromise between Russia and the United States.
But a diplomatic source said that divisions between U.N. members are not a “good signal” to Libyans and “will not help Stephanie Williams” in her current role.
