Deputy Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said that the UN has “alternative mechanisms if the division continues in Libya, and the efforts of the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily do not yield results.”
Haq explained in press remarks that the alternative mechanisms are “an encouragement to the Libyan parties and not a threat to them. There are those who want to spoil the mechanisms for reaching a solution.” He stressed that there was “no alternative to elections in Libya as soon as possible, to find a legitimate government.”
Haq explained that Bathily is “trying to communicate with all parties to reach a constitutional framework for the elections at the end of this month.” He noted that the Secretary-General is “focused on holding elections, the withdrawal of foreign fighters, as well as national reconciliation.”
“Bathily is able to make progress in the Libyan file, provided there is a desire among the Libyans to work together,” he noted.
The UN diplomat pointed out that there are parties trying to benefit from the divisions since 2011. “It is clear that the Libyan parties are still divided, and we believe that if Libyans work together, their country will be better off.”
On Saturday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) confirmed that it has not published any proposed plan aimed at addressing the political crisis in Libya.
In a statement, UNSMIL confirmed that it continues to actively work with all actors to identify a Libyan-led way forward.
The UN Mission has denied reports about supporting the formation of a new government in the war-torn country. “UNSMIL notes false online reports that Bathily plans to announce a new roadmap, including a new government,” the mission said in a statement.
“This sort of fake news is aimed at generating confusion about the current political process and in particular the role of UNSMIL which is not to impose but to support a Libyan-Libyan solution,” it added.
UNSMIL called on all parties “to refrain from any actions that could threaten Libya’s fragile stability, including spreading misleading and unfounded information.”