The UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily met with Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
“We agreed that Libyan actors must rise to the challenge of overcoming the political deadlock,” Bathily tweeted. He added that he agreed with Al Nahyan on the “necessity of paving way for elections and providing the people with legitimate representatives.”
The need to coordinate with other international players to provide support to Libya was also emphasised.
Earlier this month, the Acting Political Coordinator of the UAE, Saud Rashid Al Mazrouei called for the “restoration of momentum to the political process in Libya, in order to hold elections, and to reach a genuine and peaceful settlement.”
Al Mazrouei also noted the importance of “resuming consultations between the Libyan parties, in order to create the appropriate conditions for holding elections.”
In October, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN Ameirah AlHefeiti confirmed that Parliamentary and Presidential elections, “remain a legitimate demand for the Libyan people.” She added that holding them would require, “dialogue between all Libyan parties.”
AlHefeiti announced her welcome of the recent meeting between the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh, and the Head of the High Council of State (HCS), Khaled Al-Mishri in Morocco.
In her speech before the Security Council during a session on Libya, AlHefeiti stressed that “to this end, the path of national reconciliation must be followed.” She praised the progress of the Presidential Council’s efforts in this regard.
The Emirati diplomat reiterated the need to “unify the security and political institutions, and start withdrawing foreign forces, fighters, and mercenaries from Libya, in a simultaneous, phased, gradual and balanced manner.”
She also called for “giving due importance to the humanitarian and economic tracks. This requires decision-makers in Libya to focus their priorities on responding to providing the basic needs and services of the Libyan people, exploiting natural resources, spending revenues in a fair and transparent manner, and respecting the independence of Libyan economic and financial institutions.”