US Stresses Need for Constitutional Basis for Libyan Elections

Arab World

July 27th, 7:13am

Cairo – Khaled Mahmoud

The signing ceremony of the agreement between the Libyan and US company in Tripoli (Libyan government)

US Ambassador Richard Norland has encouraged all Libyan leaders to work together and make the necessary compromises to meet the people’s expectation of free and fair elections, an essential step towards a stable, unified and democratic Libya. Norland, who visited Tripoli for the first time since he assumed his position, stressed that time is crucial and asserted that Libyan leaders need to make critical preparations to ensure successful national elections in December, including determining a constitutional basis and the election law that will govern them. He held talks with head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid Dbeibeh bilateral relations, US support to complete the government’s work, the budget and the path to the elections. Norland also attended a signing ceremony for a new 5G telecommunications contract between Libyan company Hatif and US company Infinera. He said that this new collaboration is an example that shows how improving stability and political progress can lead to job creation and economic benefits for the Libyan people. Meanwhile, a committee of nine members of the House of Representatives kicked off meetings in Rome on Monday on adopting the legal framework for the elections. Heald in the presence of the UN mission and the High National Elections Commission, the talks will continue until July 29. Parliamentary spokesman Abdullah Blehik said the meeting would include representatives from across Libya and members of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The UNSMIL hoped this effort and the work of the HoR committee would result in establishing a legal framework and additional momentum for holding inclusive, accessible and fair parliamentary and presidential elections on December 24. The role of UNSMIL during this meeting will be to provide technical support and advice to the HoR Committee and the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) in developing draft electoral laws based on UN principles of electoral assistance and human rights principles. The UNSMIL stressed the importance of an inclusive electoral process and including the High Council of State in the preparation of the electoral laws, including during the meeting in Rome, in line with relevant provisions of the Libyan Political Agreement and the Tunis Roadmap regarding the preparation of the electoral legislation. UNSMIL urged the HoR and the High Council of State to act in goodwill towards these objectives and to coordinate in line with the relevant provisions of the Libyan Political Agreement.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3100581/us-stresses-need-constitutional-basis-libyan-elections