Panafrican News Agency

Libyan Council chairman reaffirms importance of consensus to solve Libyan crisis

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, has renewed his call to all participants in the political process to give priority to the interest of the country, considering that consensus is the key to reach a final solution to the Libyan crisis, achieve peace and national reconciliation and rebuild the state, based on security, justice and law.

This position came during the meeting between Al-Manfi, and his two deputy chairmen, Moussa Al-Kouni and Abdellah Al-Lafi, on Wednesday in Tripoli, with the acting head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Raisdon Zenenga, and the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Libyan Affairs, Stephanie Williams, in attendance.

The officials discussed the latest developments in the political process in Libya, a statement from the Presidential Council said.

During the meeting, the Chairman and his two deputies stressed the continuation of efforts to make the political process a success, to reach the electoral deadlines to which all Libyan people aspire, while praising the efforts of the United Nations to support the political track process.

For his part, the Acting Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Raisedon Zenenga, and the UN Advisor, Stephanie Williams, reaffirmed the mission's commitment to continue efforts to find a solution to the current political crisis, praising the efforts of the Presidential Council in bringing together the views of all parties involved in the political process.

Mr Zenenga called on the Presidential Council to intervene to resolve the issue raised by some members of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission regarding the suspended salaries of the military institution, expressing his hope that the work of the commission will resume soon.

Representatives of the eastern region in the 5+5 Joint Military Commission announced the suspension of their participation in the commission, accusing the government of Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba of torpedoing the terms of the ceasefire agreement signed in October 2020.

They also slammed the non-transfer of power to the government of Prime Minister Fathi Bachagha, appointed by the Parliament.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the efforts of the Presidential Council and the international communities to discus the different options for the success of the political process.

"Maintaining stability in the country and discussing ways to preserve what the 5+5 Joint Military Commission has achieved, were also discussed.

The Advisor to the UN Secretary General also briefed the Presidential Council on the outcome of the Cairo meetings between the House of Representatives (Parliament) and the High State Council regarding the constitutional path and steps towards consensus.

Both parties concluded consultations in Cairo, Egypt, under the auspices of the United Nations for the definition of a constitutional rule on the basis of which general elections will be held.

The talks, which Williams described as consensual, are expected to resume after Eid Al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan holiday, in early May.

-0- PANA BY/IS/BBA/VAO 20April2022