During his meeting with the Czech Ambassador to Libya, Jan Vycital, Libya’s Prime Minister-designate, Fathi Bashagha affirmed his “position to use all peaceful and legal methods to start the government’s work from Tripoli.”
Bashagha added that this will help to “start the electoral process, and to provide services urgently and quickly to all Libyans.”
Vycital tweeted: “I met the House of Representatives-Designated Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha to discuss the political situation in Libya.”
The meeting highlighted the importance of finding political solutions and organising elections via Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC).
“We reflected on Libyan-Czech relations and
the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs stabilization support for the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Libya,” the Ambassador added.
On Thursday, Bashagha welcomed the recent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which discussed the latest developments in the Libyan crisis.
In a statement, Bashagha stressed that any initiatives aimed at holding legislative elections in certain regions, while ignoring others will “create a state of division and fuel strife among the population.” He indicated that the elections cannot take place, in light of the current divisions and conflicts.
On Wednesday, the UN’s Political Chief, Rosemary DiCarlo called for elections as soon as possible, to unify the oil-rich North African nation.
DiCarlo told the Security Council she is encouraged by support for a UN initiative to convene a joint committee from the Libyan Parliament, and High State Council (HCS) with a goal of reaching an agreement “on a constitutional basis that would lead to elections this year.”
She warned that the continuing standoff over “executive legitimacy” could again lead to two parallel administrations, “instability and possibly unrest and deal a severe blow to the prospect of elections.” She also called for ending the suspension of flights between the east and west of the country.
“We remain convinced that credible, transparent, and inclusive elections based on a sound constitutional and legal framework are the only solution to the current stalemate,” she noted.
The current crisis erupted after Libya failed to hold its first Presidential elections on 24 December, under a UN-led reconciliation effort. The Libyan Parliament named a new Prime Minister, former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, to lead a new interim government in February.