Senior UN official in Libya discusses support for elections with various parties
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Libya, Mrs. Stephanie Williams, on Tuesday participated in three meetings in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, with countries interested in the Libyan issue.
The meetings focused on support for the organisation of elections, discussions with members of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission on disarmament and demobilisation and with ceasefire observers for the implementation of monitoring plans in this regard.
In a series of tweets published on Wednesday, Mrs. Williams thanked representatives of countries at the Tunis meeting for raising the Libyan situation, praising their support for holding elections.
"Before the Security Working Group meeting began, I met with senior government officials from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Egypt and Turkey (to discuss) the latest developments in Libya," the UN official wrote.
She expressed her gratitude to all of them for their support in pressing for the holding of elections as soon as possible on a solid basis and within a consensual constitutional framework in order to realise the aspirations of the Libyan people in electing their representatives.
A third round of consultations between the Libyan parliament and the High State Council on defining a constitutional basis for holding general elections is scheduled to open on Saturday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Libya currently has two rival governments after the failed 24 December 2021 elections: the internationally-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba, and that of the Government of National Stability (GNS) led Fathi Bachagha, who was appointed by Parliament.
In another meeting, Mrs. Williams stressed the importance of ensuring that stability and calm on the ground are maintained.
"We had valuable discussions on ceasefire monitoring, disarmament and demobilisation, and the way forward for the work of the 5+5 military commission," said Ms Williams.
The Commission is composed equally of five senior officers from both sides of the conflict in Libya -- the army loyal to the GNU and the Libyan National Army led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar from the east.
Mrs. Williamns said at the third meeting that Libyan and international observers have expressed their commitment to implementing the next steps of the ceasefire agreement.
"Also in Tunisia, I was delighted to participate directly in the meeting of Libyan and international ceasefire monitors at their first meeting, and they showed enthusiasm and commitment to activating the next steps of the ceasefire agreement," she said.
The United Nations has dispatched a group of ceasefire observers based in the central city of Sirte representing the line of contact between the two sides in the conflict.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 8June2022
