Libya's UN delegate calls for 'fair' elections to resolve crisis
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council, Taher al-Sonni, said on Wednesday that the holding of "transparent and fair" elections, with consensual laws and a solid constitutional basis, is the only real guarantee for restoring the legitimacy of the people, ending the conflict and resolving the crisis in the country.
Speaking at the Security Council briefing on the situation in Libya, Mr. al-Sonni recalled that the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba, recently announced an initiative to break the political deadlock, move towards elections and create the political conditions necessary for them to be held as soon as possible.
The Libyan Prime Minister proposed on 21 February a plan called "Restoring Confidence in the People" to hold parliamentary elections and a referendum on the draft constitution by the end of June, in accordance with the roadmap of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.
The Libyan delegate to the United Nations said that the spectre of political and institutional division hangs over the country again, one year after the Geneva agreement.
This deadlock is coming at a time when the beginning of a collective consensus and the end of the armed conflict is underway.
Libya has entered a new political deadlock after the postponement of elections on 24 December last year, resulting in two competing governments, that of Mr. al-Dbaiba and that of the Prime Minister appointed by Parliament, Fathi Bachagha, fuelling tension in the country and putting it on the brink of a new war.
Mr al-Sonni said that all efforts must now be focused on de-escalation and the organisation of the elections that could not be held last December.
He expressed regret that "as soon as there are signs of détente in the Libyan crisis and we take a step forward, some people try to make us go backwards".
Mr. al-Sonni said that misunderstanding and lack of real consensus remain the main feature of the current political scene.
The Libyan diplomat denounced international interventions, interventions by countries that have exported their conflicts and illegal foreign presence, saying "our stability has become hostage to their interests".
Mr. al-Sonni pointed out that the Libyan Presidential Council has also initiated several meetings and dialogues with national forces to find common denominators through which to resolve the impasse.
Furthermore, he said that a committee has been set up, composed of legal experts, to prepare the draft reconciliation law that will be submitted to the legislative authority for approval.
He stressed the importance of supporting the efforts of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, whose support will be essential to ensure the removal of obstacles that prevent the full implementation of the ceasefire provisions, foremost among which is the end of any form of foreign presence.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 17March2022
