France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America welcome the agreement reached by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum on a unified interim Libyan executive authority charged with leading the country to national elections on December 24, 2021.
The US Department of State said in a statement Saturday that this critical step towards reaching a negotiated and inclusive political solution is the result of a genuinely Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process, the mediation of the United Nations, and the support of the Libyan people.
“We commend the extraordinary commitment of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and of Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Williams. We look forward to fully supporting the work of Special Envoy Ján Kubiš.” The statement reads.
The countries called on all current Libyan authorities and actors to ensure a smooth and constructive handover of all competences and duties to the new unified executive authority.
“Since the Berlin Conference, Libya has made significant progress toward securing lasting peace and stability, including through the reopening of the energy sector, the nationwide ceasefire agreement of 23 October 2020, the roadmap for holding national elections in December 2021, and now the selection of a unified, interim executive authority.” The statement adds.
They also said that there’s still a long road that lies ahead, adding that a unified executive authority will have to implement the ceasefire agreement, provide essential public services to the Libyan people, initiate a program for meaningful reconciliation, address critical national budget needs, and organize national elections.
“The new interim government, to be proposed by the designated Prime Minister, should be truly inclusive, allowing all Libyans to be represented, including with regard to gender, ethnicity and regional origin.” The statement explains.
The countries also called on the delegates of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to maintain their important function, guaranteeing the focus of the new unified executive authority on preparing and holding elections as decided by the Forum.
“At the Berlin Conference on Libya last year, the international community committed to supporting a resolution to Libya’s conflict. In the spirit of that commitment, all participants of the Conference should now support the new executive authority in fulfilling its duties to the Libyan people, fully implement the arms embargo, and support the immediate withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries.” The statement further adds.
France, UK, US and Germany said they stand ready to hold to account those who threaten stability or undermine the political process in Libya.
Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) members cast votes Friday in Geneva and finally agreed to select the Head and members of the Presidential Council as well as the new Prime Minister of the Libyan executive authority that will lead to general elections on December 24, 2021.
After individual voting failed, four lists that included candidates for the top Libyan executive authority positions were presented for the positions to run the executive authority in the upcoming interim period.
The winning list received 39 votes and it included Mohammed Menfi (representative of the east), as Head of the Presidential Council; Mossa Al-Koni, member representative of the south; Abdullah Al-Lafi, member representative of the west and Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, as Prime Minister.
