On Saturday, the United Kingdom’s (UK) permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Barbara Woodward, said that time is running out to agree on a legal and constitutional basis for elections in Libya.
During the UN Security Council Briefing on Libya, Woodward said, “we are at a critical point. There is a clear demand from the Libyan people to participate in elections and have their voices heard.”
“It is essential that those in authority who represent the Libyan people reach an agreement on holding elections and that they commit to accepting the results of those elections,” she noted.
The British diplomat also welcomed the efforts being exerted by the House of Representatives (HoR) to find a solution to this issue. She also encouraged further engagement to allow full agreement on, and preparation for, the presidential and political elections on the 24th of December, as set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) roadmap, endorsed by UN Security Council in resolution 2570.
Woodward confirmed that the UK remains committed to championing women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the Libyan elections in December. The elections can offer an opportunity for the full meaningful participation of women as voters, candidates and decision-makers in the political process.
In addition, she stressed the need to withdraw all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without delay.
“We look forward to the initial deployment of the UN ceasefire monitors in support of the Libyan Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism in the coming weeks. The Joint Military Commission (JMC) 5+5 Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism supported by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has the UK’s full support in driving this process forward,” the British diplomat added.
She also urged Libya to build a stable, prosperous, and inclusive future for all Libyans, noting that the next major milestone is ensuring clear presidential and parliamentary elections on the 24th of December.