"I was surprised when I learned the news through the press and social media that you had received the electoral laws, presented them in an HoR session, and approved them." Bathily told Saleh
UN envoy surprised at HoR Speaker's approval of Libya election laws
The UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily stressed in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Aqila Saleh that the electoral process should be based on enforceable electoral laws, as they constitute the core of the mandate of the United Nations mission in Libya, adding that he was surprised that the HoR approved the laws without getting UN mission's opinion and proposals as agreed before.
Bathily added that the agreement signed in Benghazi regarding informing the mission of developments in the electoral process obliged the HoR to cooperate with the UN mission and make room for Bathily to participate in the process of approving the draft laws that would be presented by the 6+6 Joint Committee once the final copies had been received.
"I was surprised when I learned the news through the press and social media that you had received the electoral laws, presented them in an HoR session, and approved them." Bathily told Saleh, adding he was surprised that a copy of the HoR's letter to the UN Secretary-General was circulating online to inform the UN about the adoption of the laws and to request support in order to form a new government.
He called on the HoR Speaker to send the official copy of the revised electoral laws, as referred by the 6+6 Joint Committee to the House of Representatives to the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) as soon as possible. He also stressed that it became extremely urgent for Libyan leaders to join forces to reach a political settlement on electoral and other immediate issues, citing the necessity of agreeing on a workable map to improve Libya’s unity, sovereignty and prosperity.
The Head of UNSMIL reiterated that the UN mission was committed to implementing its mandate to oblige Libyans to respect their pledges to give the Libyan people state institutions that are legitimate and subject to accountability.
