The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Libya, Stephanie Williams called on Libya’s parties to put aside political differences and redraw a roadmap for the long-waited elections.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Williams said that several prominent Libyan personalities obstructed the path towards the elections. She stressed that the elections will resolve the crisis of popular legitimacy, that all Libyan institutions suffer from. As well as recalling the mass demonstrations across the country, due to the absence of basic services.
“We ended a meeting in Geneva that was preceded by meetings in Cairo to focus on putting the country back on the roadmap leading to elections. There is a lot that can be built on what was achieved in the Cairo rounds, and the meetings in Geneva,” she said.
Williams pointed out that she had asked the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS) to resolve contentious points regarding the requirements to run for President. The two bodies disagreed over the eligibility of dual nationals to run, but agreed to hold further consultations regarding the issue.
She rejected to comment on the eligibility of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. “I will not talk about the candidacy of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi or others. It is up to the Libyan people to choose their representatives through the ballot boxes. The United Nations is focusing on the entire political process in Libya,” she said.
“Despite the progress in negotiations between the heads of the respective chambers, disagreement persists on the eligibility requirements for the candidates in the first Presidential elections,” Williams said last month.
The UN advisor added that both sides reached an “unprecedented consensus” on several long-standing issues, including those on the designation of each side’s headquarters, and the division of responsibilities between the President and Prime Minister.” She urged both sides to “overcome the pending disagreement as soon as possible”.