The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Libya, and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily met with the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra to discuss ways to resolve the Libyan crisis.
Bathily said in a statement that he met Lamamra on Tuesday, in Algiers. They held extensive consultations about the crisis in Libya, its impact on neighboring countries, and ways to overcome the political impasse.
Bathily emphasized the “importance of unifying efforts at the regional and international levels to achieve the much needed and necessary compromise for holding elections in 2023, to put Libya on a path of sustained stability and peace.”
He also highlighted the importance of Algeria’s continued support, as a bordering country, and a member of the Arab League, and the African Union.
On Monday, the Libyan Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha called on Tunisia and Algeria to “reconsider their foreign policy towards Libya, and not be drawn into the biased practices of the Tripoli-based, Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.”
Bashagha reaffirmed that the GNU’s legal and administrative mandate, set by the legislative authority has ended. This is in accordance with the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration, and the Libyan Political Agreement.
He also called on Arab states to “support the country’s unity and urge for reconciliation between the Libyan parties, and to back a Libyan-Libyan settlement, which will pave the way for electing a unified executive authority in the country.”
Bashagha hailed the decision of some Arab countries to not participate in the consultative meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers, hosted by the GNU.
The overwhelming majority of Arab countries boycotted the ministerial meeting hosted by Libya on Sunday. Only five of the Arab League’s 22 members sent their Foreign Ministers, and even the bloc’s Secretary-General failed to attend.
Regional heavyweights Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates did not attend. Four members sent lower-ranking ministers or ambassadors, while Arab League Chief, Ahmed Aboul Gheit was also absent.