A high-ranking source from the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA), said that the army “will not participate in the talks called by the UN Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, unless the Parliament-designated government is invited to the table.”
The source told Libya’s Al-Masar TV that “any dialogue that does not represent active parties, especially the LNA, is a failed meeting that will not succeed.”
The source pointed out that “during the UN Envoy’s recent visit to Benghazi, he was informed of the leadership’s stance. In response, Bathily indicated acceptance of adding representatives from the eastern-based government. However, since Bathily did not adhere to his promise, the invitation will not be accepted.”
The source affirmed that “any political dialogue involving active parties that excludes representatives from the Libyan government is an unbalanced and unacceptable dialogue.”
Last week, Bathily invited political parties in Libya to an extensive meeting, to discuss obstacles hindering elections in the country.
He invited designated representatives from the Presidential Council, Libyan Parliament, High Council of State (HCS), Government of National Unity (GNU) and the LNA.
However, an invitation was not extended to the Parliament-designated government. The move was rejected by the Parliament, which announced its refusal to participate in the meeting.
In response, the Libyan Parliament also announced its refusal to participate in the meeting.
In a statement, the Parliament expressed reservations about the UN Envoy’s call, citing concerns about the disregard for the Parliament’s decisions regarding constitutional amendments, and the vote of confidence given to the Libyan government.
The statement emphasised the Parliament’s rejection of engaging in any dialogue or political agreement that does not respect Libyan will, and elected legitimate institutions.
It underscored the Parliament’s commitment to electoral transparency, urging adherence to the Libyan people’s will through transparent voting processes, free from external interventions.
Bathily initiated steps to resolve disputes among Libyan parties and pave the way for elections, extending invitations to key institutional stakeholders for a preparatory meeting.
He has recently conducted intensive consultations with a wide range of Libyan stakeholders.
Bathily extended invitations to key Libyan institutional stakeholders for a forthcoming meeting. The meeting aims to resolve politically contested issues, hindering the implementation of the electoral process.
The preparatory meeting will focus on determining the date, venue, and agenda of the meeting.
Furthermore, discussions will address outstanding issues critical for the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to initiate the implementation of electoral laws issued by the Parliament.
The resolution urges stakeholders to “intensify efforts to resolve outstanding political issues through UN-facilitated dialogue, and underscores the international community’s obligation to fully support Bathily and UNSMIL in their mandate implementation.”