On Tuesday, the General Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar held talks with the French President’s Special Envoy to Libya, Paul Soler in Benghazi.
The meeting was also attended by French Ambassador to Libya, Mustafa Maharaj.
The two sides affirmed the importance of a political solution based on, and in support of the efforts of the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative, Abdoulaye Bathily.
Soler noted that Paris’ priority was peace and security in Libya and the wider region. As well as the restoration of full sovereignty for Libyans over their territories.
He explained that France “exerts a great effort in supporting the military track, in cooperation with the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).”
On 11 March, the two French diplomats held a meeting with Bathily, during which, they affirmed their support for his initiative to hold elections in Libya before the end of this year.
The French Embassy in Libya confirmed that representatives of France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the US are in Libya to express their support for Bathily’s initiative. As well as to obtain the support of Libyan leaders for the roadmap leading to elections.
The representatives stressed in their meetings with the Libyan authorities the necessity of reaching settlements to hold the elections, and to enable the Libyan people to fulfil their desire to choose their leaders
On Monday, Bathily told the UN Security Council that he has decided to launch an initiative aimed at holding Presidential and legislative elections this year.
“In this regard, I plan to establish a High-level Steering Panel for Libya,” Bathily remarked in the Security Council’s meeting on Libya on Monday.
The proposed mechanism will bring together all relevant Libyan stakeholders, including representatives of political institutions, major political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organisations, security actors, women, and youth representatives, according to the UN envoy.
“In addition to the facilitation of the adoption of the legal framework and time-bound roadmap to the holding of elections in 2023, the proposed Panel will also provide a platform to advance consensus around related matters, such as election security and the adoption of a Code of Conduct for all candidates,” he added.
