The UN envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, warned on Friday that signs of partition are already evident in Libya and urged influential nations to pressure Libya’s rival leaders to urgently finalize the constitutional basis for elections, stressing that if there is no resolution, an alternative way should be found to hold elections.
The first anniversary of the vote’s postponement is coming up on December 25, said Bathily in his briefing at the Security Council, adding that the continuing disagreement between the Speaker of Libya’s east-based House of Representatives, Aqila Saleh, and the Head of the High Council of State, Khalid Al-Mishri, who is based in the country’s west, on a limited number of provisions in the constitution can no longer serve as a justification to hold an entire country hostage.
Bathily said if the two chambers can’t reach agreement swiftly, an alternative mechanism can and should be used to alleviate the sufferings caused by outdated and open-ended interim political arrangements.
He reiterated that the Security Council needs to think creatively about ways to ensure that free, fair, transparent and simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections are organized and held under a single, unified and neutral administration, and that those who wish to run as candidates resign from their current functions to create a level playing field.
"I undertook a tour of the region to meet with the regional partners. From 19 to 30 November, I travelled to Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Tunisia. I continued my dialogue with Libyan stakeholders and international partners to advance the political process and revive the electoral track in accordance with Security Council resolution 2656." Bathily said.
He said he had urged the leaders of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, to rise above personal and group interests and work constructively towards finalizing the constitutional basis for elections, within a well-defined timeframe, in line with the pressing aspirations of the majority of the citizens of Libya.
On the two chambers' meeting, Bathily said UNSMIL is working with the chairs of the HoR and the HSC to identify a new date and location in Libya for this meeting to take place.
"I am also in touch with the Presidential Council, to facilitate a meeting between the three institutions based on the recent proposal put forward by President of the Presidential Council Mr. Al-Mnefi in this regard." He added.
