The US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland stated that the Libyan people “wanted change in 2011, and want change today.”
According to a statement by the US Embassy in Libya, Norland said: “Today is the 11th anniversary of the revolution that unleashed both promise and struggle over the past decade.”
“Libyans wanted change in 2011 and want change today. They deserve to keep moving on the path from dictatorship through turmoil to, at last, democracy. This is still possible if their leaders put the interests of Libya first and move the country in a positive direction,” the US ambassador said.
“Though elections were postponed, the desire to hold them has not abated. Libyans are more than ready to legitimize a lasting government that will unify the country, share oil wealth equitably, and restore Libyan sovereignty over its territory and its borders. It is not for the United States to tell Libyans what to do in the current situation, but I want you to know that we support every effort underway, with UN facilitation, to produce compromise solutions that will result as soon as possible in a credible path to elections,” he added.
“Elections are not an end in themselves, but they are the key to restoring legitimacy. For the sake of you and your children, we will stay with you on this path,” the Ambassador noted.
Days ago, Norland met with Members of the Libyan Parliament from the Fezzan region in Tunisia.
According to a tweet by the US Embassy in Libya, Norland said: “HoR members from the Fezzan, Mahdi Massoud La’war, Abu Salah Shalabi, and Misbah Douma honored me with a visit to Tunis on Feb. 12 where they shared their vision for Fezzan’s role in Libya’s future and the need for Libya to hold elections as soon as possible to ensure the will of 2.8 million Libyans is respected.”
He added that they discussed important proposals for reforming laws, to ensure the success of the electoral process. “We agreed that timely elections represent the best path toward a secure, unified, and prosperous Libya.”
“As Libyan institutions make determinations as to the immediate future of the country’s leadership, we continue to urge all Libyan leaders to de-escalate tensions that could lead to violence and not lose sight of the will of the majority of Libyan people who want to choose their leadership in free and fair elections,” the Ambassador stressed.