Batili announces the launch of a negotiating track to settle the politically disputed points, paving the way for successful elections.

Tripoli, July 11, 2023 (LANA) - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, "Abdullah Batili," said that he had informed the Security Council of his intention to bring together the main Libyan institutions and actors, or their trusted representatives, to reach, through comprehensive negotiations and compromise solutions, a final settlement on most issues stirring controversy, based on Security Council Resolution No. 2656 of 2022.

In a statement published by the mission on its website, Batili said that he will intensify his contacts with the main Libyan institutions, in addition to the political and security leaders, in the coming weeks, in preparation for these negotiations.

He said, "I count on the cooperation of all relevant Libyan institutions and actors in our work together to find the necessary compromises to settle the politically disputed points and reach a political solution that paves the way for successful elections."

The UN envoy called in his statement; The House of Representatives and the High Council of State call for cooperation with the High National Elections Commission in addressing the legal loopholes and technical shortcomings that have been identified and making the necessary technical amendments to the two draft laws prepared by the (6 + 6) committee in a way that makes them applicable.

"It is imperative for all Libyan parties to draw lessons from the mistakes and pitfalls that occurred in the years 2021 and 2022, and to refrain from any behavior - including unilateral or lacking in comprehensive decisions - that would deepen the crisis or divert attention from our common goal of empowerment," Batili said. "To conduct successful elections that meet the aspirations of the Libyan people."

The UN envoy indicated that he had communicated over the past few months with all Libyan political and security leaders, relevant institutions, representatives of civil society, women and youth, notables, municipal councils, political parties and other components of Libyan society to discuss how to launch a path leading to successful, inclusive and credible elections in Libya as soon as possible, in a safe environment and on the basis of equal opportunities.

Batili stated that this communication came in light of Security Council Resolution No. 2656 of 2022, according to which he urged the main Libyan institutions and parties to agree on a road map for holding elections as soon as possible throughout the country, on a constitutional and legal basis, through dialogue, compromise and interaction, building in a transparent and inclusive manner with the aim of achieving things including the formation of a unified Libyan government capable of exercising governance throughout the country and representing the entire Libyan people.

He also affirmed his continuous encouragement to the House of Representatives and the State Council to carry out their responsibilities and complete the constitutional and legal framework regulating the elections, pointing to the allocation of the UN mission to a team that includes experts in elections, the constitution and gender equality in order to provide technical assistance to the Committee (6 + 6) during the preparation of the two draft elections laws.

Batili praised the efforts of the (6 + 6) committee as an important step forward, but he reaffirmed that the two draft elections laws in their current form will not enable successful elections, calling for more work to make the two draft elections laws applicable by addressing the legal and technical deficiencies identified by the HNEC.

In his statement, the UN envoy said that the main Libyan institutions and parties must reach a comprehensive political settlement regarding the most prominent politically controversial points that were identified in his briefing to the Security Council on June 19, such as the conditions for running for the presidential elections, for example, and the requirement for a second round, mandatory for the presidential elections, and the demand for the formation of a new interim government before the election date.

..(LANA)..