The US Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, described in a statement on the House of Representatives (HoR) and High Council of State (HCS) consultations hosted in Morocco, as important, saying the representatives of the HoR and HSC met and held consultations over remaining issues surrounding the elections scheduled for December 24.
Norland said UNSMIL was present as technical facilitator at the invitation of Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita, adding that he had a chance to meet separately with the participants from the HoR and HCS.
“While it is clear that efforts are still needed to bring the parties closer, we hope due consideration will be given by each side to the legitimate concerns expressed by the other .Nevertheless, if parliamentary and presidential elections are to proceed on December 24 in order to put in place a lasting legitimate government for Libya, the process must move forward now so candidate registration and other aspects of implementation can begin.” Norland added.
He indicated that no individual or institution should have veto power over critical electoral legislation – rather, Libya’s institutions and their leaders must trust the voters to decide who should lead the country.
The final statement of the HoR and HCS’s meetings in Rabat urged the international community to support elections in Libya as per consensual legislations and political dialogue results.
The meetings in Morocco came after controversy of the presidential elections law that was unilaterally issued by the HoR.
