On Thursday, the Chairman of Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Sayeh received the US Special Envoy to Libya, Ambassador Richard Norland and his accompanying delegation.
The Commission said in a statement that the meeting “comes within the framework of the United States’ support for the electoral process in Libya.”
The two sides discussed the latest developments in the electoral process, and “reviewed ways to support national proposals and endeavours that seek peace and stability, and aim to achieve consensus among political parties.”
Norland affirmed his support for HNEC’s efforts to “achieve free and credible elections that reflect the will of the Libyan voter.” He praised the “efforts undertaken by the Commission in dealing with the previous electoral stages,” the statement said.
“I’m pleased to meet again with Dr. Emad al-Sayeh and his team at HNEC. I am fully confident that HNEC is technically capable and ready to hold elections,” Norland said, according to a statement by the US Embassy.
“The stage is set for key leaders to produce the political understandings, and legal basis that will permit a firm date to be set for elections this year,” Norland added.
On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh held a meeting with Norland to discuss the latest developments in the country.
In a statement, the Parliament’s media office said that they discussed the “Parliament’s efforts to date to establish a constitutional basis for elections.”
During the meeting, Saleh stated that “all the legislation required to hold the country’s Parliamentary and Presidential elections was successfully approved through the 13th Constitutional Amendment.”
The Speaker also affirmed the Parliament’s “readiness to draft the necessary amendments when needed. There is no obstacle to holding the elections with regard to the necessary legislation to conduct them.”
Saleh stressed the need for a unified government across the country to organize the elections, with results acceptable to all parties.
Norland asserted US support for the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily. As well as his efforts to secure a basis for elections this year.
