Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Aqila Saleh has affirmed to the US Special Envoy to Libya, Ambassador Richard Norland, his rejection of any attempts to initiate new dialogues or agreements in Libya, warning that this could revert the country back to square one.
Aqila received in Benghazi an American delegation headed by Norland, which included Joshua Harris, Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, Jeremy Brendt, the Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Libya, and Nabil Sadik Flores, the Political Affairs Officer at the embassy.
HoR spokesman Abdullah Belihaq said the American interlocutors were assured of the HoR's accomplishment in providing a constitutional basis, enacting electoral laws, and mechanisms for electing a unified government to organize elections.
Aqila emphasized during the meeting that any attempts to open new dialogues or agreements would take the country to square one and that the priority is to form a unified government to organize and oversee the electoral process, the spokesman added.
On the other hand, the US Embassy in Libya stated on its X account that the meeting focused on advancing the political process to allow the Libyan people to elect their leaders.
The embassy highlighted the delegation's appreciation for the work of the (6+6) committee, appointed by the HoR and the High Council of State (HCS) to prepare electoral laws.
According to the statement, the US delegation also emphasized the importance of key stakeholders coming together to address the remaining political issues, including forming a caretaker government.
They also discussed the importance of Libyans from all sides working together to ensure an appropriate environment for Libyans to freely choose their representatives as Libya prepares for the upcoming municipal elections.
Before meeting Aqila, Norland met with Khalifa Haftar to discuss advancing the political process towards elections and the efforts of the UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily in this regard, in addition to security and economic issues.
