Source denies news about Egypt hosting Libyan dialogue meeting in December

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Sun, 22 Nov 2020 - 01:30 GMT

BY

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 - 01:30 GMT

A fighter loyal to Libya's U.N.-backed government (GNA) fires a mortar during clashes with forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar on the outskirts of Tripoli, Libya May 25, 2019. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic/File Photo

A fighter loyal to Libya's U.N.-backed government (GNA) fires a mortar during clashes with forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar on the outskirts of Tripoli, Libya May 25, 2019. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic/File Photo

CAIRO -22 November 2020: An official source denied, in exclusive statements to Egypt today, the news reported by Arab media regarding Cairo hosting the meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Committee next December.

 

UN Secretary-General (ASRSG) and Head of the United Nations Support Mission (UNSMIL) in Libya Stephanie Williams announced the end of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunisia without appointing the transitional government that would oversee possible elections in 2021.

 

"We have a clear map for conducting the elections," Williams said during a press conference held in Tunis on November 15.

 

Williams stated that the vote on granting the positions in the Presidential Council and the national government for each legislative official from 2014 until now has failed, despite the approval of 61 percent of the participants in the Forum for Political Dialogue.

 

Williams explained that the vote on the proposal ended with 45 approval votes and 29 rejection votes; the percentage did not reach 75 percent, which represents the required condition for issuing the decision.

 

The UN official revealed that consensus had been reached on three relevant files during the Libyan Political Forum in Tunis, including the terms of reference of the executive authority, criteria for candidacy, and the road map, and it was also agreed to separate the Presidency Council from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

 

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) kicked off on 9 November 2020, under the auspices of the United Nations, in the Tunisian capital.  Kais Saied, President of the Republic of Tunisia and Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya welcomed the 75 Libyan women and men participating in the LPDF representing the full social and political spectrum of Libyan society. Over 70 officials representing the international community attended the opening ceremony remotely.

 

The launch of the LPDF follows months of preparations and consultations with Libyans from all constituencies, especially youth, women and municipalities.

 

On November 12, Williams said "Libya’s warring sides will immediately reopen the main coastal road connecting the vast country’s east and west across front lines," as part of a ceasefire deal agreed last month, adding "the two sides would immediately begin work to reopen the road, including the removal of landmines and withdrawing fighters from the area.

 

As laid out in the Geneva ceasefire agreement, foreign fighters and mercenaries are to be transferred to Tripoli or Benghazi before departing Libya by Jan. 23 
 

The implementation of the ceasefire is happening alongside political talks taking place in Tunis, where 75 delegates chosen by the United Nations on Wednesday agreed to hold elections within 18 months.

 

Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It now has two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country.

 

The country’s internationally recognised government is based in Tripoli, while Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supported by a parallel administration based in the east.

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