The Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily, discussed the political process in Libya with the Russian Ambassador to Libya, Aydar Ağanin.
During a meeting held in the Tunisian capital, Bathily and Ağanin reviewed the political process including observations of Libyan stakeholders on 6+6 Joint Committee outcomes.
They agreed on the importance of establishing a clear pathway to elections in Libya, according to a statement by Bathily.
Notably, the Head of Libya’s High National Election Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Sayeh, stated that Russia “has offered technical assistance to facilitate the upcoming electoral process in Libya.”
In a press statement, Al-Sayeh added that a visit by a Russian Embassy delegation to the Commission on the 14th of May was in support of the political process, particularly the elections.
He pointed out that the Russian delegation “offered technical assistance and also proposed participation in election monitoring by inviting some Russian organisations specialising in this field.”
Al-Sayeh mentioned that “they received an invitation to visit the electoral administration in Russia, and learn about the Russian experience in this regard.”
Additionally, he confirmed the HNEC’s intention to invite several international organisations active in election monitoring, as has been the custom in the past.
Notably, the 6+6 Joint Committee, entrusted by Libya’s Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS), has unanimously agreed upon the laws that will govern the impending presidential and parliamentary elections.
The decision was finalised in a series of meetings held in Bouznika, Morocco.
The 6+6 Committee announced its plan to dispatch the approved electoral laws to the Parliament, where they will be formally adopted, before being transferred to the HNEC to begin implementation.
Notably, the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) called on the Libyan Parliament and the HCS to form a new unified government of technocrats. The mission of the new government is to oversee the organisation of elections across the country.
The Eastern-based army also praised the outputs of the 6+6 Joint Committee formed by the House and HCS to prepare the election laws. In a statement on Friday, the LNA said the consensus of the two chambers is an important step towards elections.
“We support all talks and rapprochement that would end the state of political division, and that the consensus of the two chambers is an important step that paves the way for holding presidential and parliamentary elections,” the LNA noted.
“We also support all honest political solutions to end the political crisis in Libya, without prevailing, excluding or confiscating the rights of any party…This paves the way for greatest possible agreement to hold elections on time and ensure the implementation of their results.”