Williams underlines Libyans' desire for peace, security and brighter future
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams, has told participants of the first virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) on Monday that Libyans are eager to turn the page from security chaos and achieve peace and security for a brighter future for their children.
Addressing the meeting, Ms Williams said, according to a UNSMIL communiqué: "Libyans want peace, security and a decent life for themselves and their children; Libyans want respect and justice; they want to be unified and just governance; and most of all they want national unity, national sovereignty and a cohesive social fabric".
In her intervention at the virtual meeting, the UN official said "what matters to the Libyan people is 'what?' - not 'who?' What will result from the dialogue and not who will participate in it."
She pointed out that "this adds to your historical and national responsibility before your people and the world. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to place the supreme national interest above all personal, partisan and regional considerations."
During the meeting, LPDF members were informed of recent achievements in the military, economic, human rights and international humanitarian fields. They were also informed of the interesting recommendations and proposals presented by representatives of the consultative meetings that UNSMIL has held with women's and youth groups and with mayors and municipalities and others.
LPDF members presented their views and suggestions on the conduct of the discussions of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum and urged transparency throughout the process, stressing the importance of keeping the Libyan people informed of the LPDF's deliberations.
They expressed their desire to engage constructively and in good faith in the LPDF with the firm objective of forging an inclusive political roadmap to put Libya on the path to democracy, unity and prosperity.
UNSMIL will organise the direct face-to-face meetings of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum starting November 9, 2020, in the Tunisian capital.
A total of 75 Libyan participants from different constituencies, selected on the basis of the principles of inclusiveness, equitable geographical, ethnic, political, tribal and social representation, will take part Forum.
The overall objective of the LPDF is to build consensus on a unified governance framework and arrangements that will lead to the holding of national elections as soon as possible in order to restore Libya's sovereignty and the democratic legitimacy of Libyan institutions.
-0- PANA BY/IS/MTA/AR 26Oct2020
