France’s Ambassador to Libya, Mostafa Maharaj, and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed Ali Al Shamsi, discussed the recent developments in Libya.
The French Ambassador said he was received by Al-Shamsi in Tunisia and they had a “fruitful exchange on bilateral relations and developments in the Libyan file.”
Maharaj said last week that his country will play a positive role in stabilising Libya in order to reach a political agreement in the North-African nation. The agreement aims to pave the way for holding elections according to a constitutional basis, the results of which are approved by all political parties.
This came during his meeting with the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi, according to the Presidential Council’s Media Office. The statement added that the French diplomat praised the role played by the Presidential Council to get Libya out of the current crisis.
During the meeting they discussed the developments in the political situation in Libya as well as the local and international efforts made by France in achieving political stability in Libya.
“These efforts aims to (holding) parliamentary and presidential elections that meet the desire of the Libyan people to choose who represents them and implements their demands was also discussed,” the statement concluded.
Last month, the United Nations (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.
In early November, 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.”