US Ambassador: Clear Electoral Roadmap Will Ensure Libya’s Stability

The US Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland said that “the existence of a clear roadmap towards free, fair, and inclusive elections represents the best path forward to ensure a stable, united, and sovereign Libya.”

Norland affirmed the importance of securing long-term peace and stability, describing it as the “key to achieving economic prosperity for the benefit of all Libyans.” He participated in a meeting for the US-Libya Business Association members on 26 January in Washington DC. They reviewed recent political and economic developments affecting US-Libyan relations.

The Association expressed its thanks to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the US Department of State, and the US Embassy in Libya for their efforts to support US companies operating in Libya.

In October, a US delegation headed by the Chargé d’Affairs, Leslie Ordman, and the President of the Libyan American Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Hurst met with the Vice President of the Libyan American Chamber of Commerce, Ahmed Al-Ghazali.

Representatives of US companies in Libya also participated in the meeting. They discussed ways to attract other American companies to enter the promising Libyan market.

Al-Ghazali described the meeting as “fruitful, as a group of topics related to the work of American companies in Libya and ways of attracting other American companies to the Libyan market were discussed.”

He added that the Libyan government is “willing to cooperate to overcome obstacles facing American companies operating in Libya.”

Earlier this month, the Spokesman for the US Department of State, Ned Price said that the US is “communicating regularly with Libyan leaders to stress the need for political unity and agreement on a path to holding elections, without further delay.”

In an interview with Libya Al-Ahrar TV channel, Price indicated that the Libyan leaders are “responsible for resolving the current political impasse, and completing the political transition in Libya.”

“We strongly support the call of the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily to meet with Libyan leaders to quickly complete the necessary procedures for holding elections,” Price noted.

He added, “Our message is consistent, clear, and based on the expressed desires of the Libyan people to see a political agreement that leads to stability, unity, the provision of services, and a viable path towards credible elections.”

He stressed that the US “shared the desire of all Libyans to see Libyan leaders adopt the necessary measures as quickly as possible, to set the electoral process in motion.”