United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN strives to avoid the worst-case scenario in Libya, calling on all political parties to agree on holding elections.
According to the Libyan News Agency, Guterres said in a press conference in New York that the German Foreign Ministry intends to revive the Berlin conference, “as it is the most useful international tool to avoid the worst scenario in Libya and reach a possible solution to the crisis.”
The press conference was held to announce the beginning of the official assignment of the Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily.
“It is difficult to know the biggest challenge that Bathily will face in his mission in Libya,” Guterres said. He stressed the importance of the continuation of the ceasefire agreement and the preservation of stability in Libya.
The UN Secretary-General confirmed the need to quickly reach an agreement between the House of Representatives(HoR) and the High Council of State (HCS), to hold the elections.
Notably, Bathily arrived in Tripoli on Friday to assume his office as the Head of UNSMIL.
According to a statement issued by UNSMIL, Bathily said his priority is to identify a consensual pathway towards the holding of inclusive and credible national elections. He stressed that the elections should be held as soon as possible on a solid constitutional framework.
“Restoring the electoral process will support fostering national unity and stability and renew the legitimacy of institutions in the country,” he affirmed.
Bathily noted that he will lead the UN’s good offices and mediation efforts to reach a sustainable and peaceful Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solution.
“Over the coming days, I will first and foremost engage with all Libyan parties across the country, including civil society, women, and youth groups, to listen to their views on the political, security, and economic situations and hear their vision about the future of their country,” Bathily added.