The UN and its missions are “parasites” that live on the crises of the third world, he says

The Head of the Libyan High Council of State (HCS) Khalid Al-Mishri welcomed the meeting of presidential candidates, including Fathi Bashagha and Ahmed Maiteeq upon the invitation of Khalifa Haftar, in Benghazi, reiterating his readiness to visit Benghazi, Al-Bayda and Tobruk in east Libya.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera TV, Al-Mishri said Benghazi meeting of Haftar, Maiteeq and Bashagha was for presidential candidates, expressing reserves about the candidacy of military officers to elections, and reiterating that the meeting with Haftar was bold, and a way to break the barriers, welcoming the meeting and describing it as positive.

He indicated that he cannot meet with Haftar and he has legal reserves against his presidential candidacy, adding that military forces in eastern Libya can be integrated into the Libyan military institution, but he said he couldn't accept Haftar as the commander of the military institution.

Regarding his relationship with HoR Speaker, Aqila Saleh, Al-Mishri said Saleh is welcome to visit Tripoli anytime, adding that he is ready to meet with Saleh in Benghazi.

"We are in contact on the phone and we will meet face to face in the middle of next week inside Libya or in any country that is an active stakeholder of the Libyan political process." He remarked.

Al-Mishri stressed that Dbeibah's statement on handing over power to an elected government isn't true, adding that if the HCS and HoR agreed that the government must hand over power, then it has to do so or it would become an illegitimate body.

"I hoped elections would succeed. It's not true that there are 2.8 million Libyans who registered as voters, but there are less than 500.000 Libyans only. Most candidates ran for elections while they truly know that they won't be held." Al-Mishri said, adding that the High National Elections Commission had been operating from outside Libya by Emad Al-Sayeh who held 33 meetings with foreign officials after the issuance of the HoR election law, and reiterating that elections under the Commission couldn't be held as international reports said there would be a disaster if the elections are conducted."

Al-Mishri said the consensus within the 5+5 Joint Military Commission will be reflected on armed groups in Libya, adding that militias are calling for integration, and that some fighters are shouldering weapons because there aren't any available job opportunities.

He also explained that war in Libya led to lots of foreign interventions and foreigners took hold of the political and military institution, which is one of the problems in Libya.

Commenting on the role of UN Mission in Libya, Al-Mishri said that the UN and its missions are “parasites” that live on the crises of the third world, adding that the UN Mission in Libya did not provide any support and failed to achieve peace in the country.