On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed Moscow’s concern about the delay accumulated in nominating a new Special Representative of the United Nations’ Secretary-General in Libya.
“International efforts to provide foreign assistance to Libyans in overcoming the consequences of the devastating and bloody political-military crisis, must be effectively coordinated by the United Nations,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told reporters.
“In this regard, worries over the unjustified delay in appointing a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Libya to replace Ghassan Salame, who left his post in March of this year, cannot be overstated,” Zakharova added.
The former Special Representative, Ghassan Salame, who was central for the organisation of the Berlin Conference for a Libyan Settlement, announced in March that he would leave his post. Stephanie Williams has succeeded Salame as the Acting Special Representative for Libya.
Libya has been suffering from security chaos and a power struggle between the Tripoli- based Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Benghazi-based Interim Government, which is supported by Parliament and the Libyan National Army forces led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, since the signing of the Skhirat Agreement in 2015.
In August, the two sides declared a ceasefire following numerous international negotiations.