The United States (US) Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, announced the upcoming negotiations between the two rival Prime Ministers of Libya.
The US Embassy said in a statement that Norland met with the House of Representative (HoR) -Designated Libyan Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, in Tunisia on March 12th.
The US ambassador commended Bashagha for his interest in pursuing urgent United Nations (UN)-facilitated negotiations aimed at reaching a political understanding with the Prime Minister of the Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba. Both parties need to look at how to manage the final stages of interim governance and prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible.
“The format and location of talks will be determined by the parties themselves in consultation with the UN and international partners,” the US statement noted.
The US affirmed that it respects the right of Libyans to determine their own future. It urged Libyans to do this through exclusively peaceful means without any violence.
“We believe free, fair and inclusive elections are the only formula for lasting stability,” the statement added.
“Choosing sides is not an option. The only side that can justifiably be chosen is peaceful negotiations,” the US statement concluded.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said the country’s rival Prime Ministers may hold direct talks to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
Williams told Bloomberg that there’s been “positive feedback” from the two Prime Ministers. This is after she was asked if the Parliament-backed Premier, Fathi Bashagha, and the incumbent, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, had agreed to sit down for talks.
“The good thing is that everyone is ready to engage in constructive dialogue, and that’s what we need to build upon,” she said on Thursday.
Williams said the UN favours neither side and is “not in the business of endorsing or recognizing governments.” She described holding elections as “the only way out of the Libyan political crisis,” and “essential to renew popular legitimacy for Libya’s institutions.”