US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said on Sunday, that Washington supports elections in Libya, so that there can be a “clear and legitimate government that reflects the Libyan people.”
In an interview with the Al-Arabiya television channel at the US Embassy in Cairo, Blinken said that the elections are what the Libyan people want. “So the special representative of the UN Secretary-General has a plan to try to move to an election at the earliest possible moment. That’s the most critical next step,” he said, according to the US Department of State.
“That’s how you get, finally, unity in the country and a government that’s clearly legitimate and responsive to what the people want,” Blinken added.
Blinken arrived in Cairo on Sunday evening, to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and senior Egyptian officials. The visit aims to discuss a number of bilateral issues.
On Friday, the Regional Spokesman for the Department of State, Samuel Warburg said that Washington strongly supports the mediation efforts of the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily. This is to “encourage all parties to work in good faith to reach an agreement on a constitutional framework and a specific timetable for elections.”
In press remarks, Warburg stressed the need for all Libyan political leaders to work together to set a viable date for elections. “Our goal in Libya is to see Libyan leaders agree to hold elections as soon as possible and to meet the demands of the Libyan people for a unified elected government that can build a more secure and prosperous future for Libya,” he added.
He affirmed that Washington has consistently stood by the Libyan people in their attempts to establish democratic bodies.
