The Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh, renewed his commitment to the outcomes of the Berlin Conference and the provisions of the Cairo Declaration, in addition to the political initiative issued by the Parliament as a realistic and peaceful solution to end the crisis in Libya.
In a televised speech, Saleh called on Libyans to realize “the dangers surrounding the country and to engage in the political process as it remains the only way to avoid the return of bloodshed.”
Saleh pointed out that the most dangerous threat to a settlement is “attempts to create parallel paths and jump over the principles of equality and justice between Libyans. The most important of which are the rights of the residents of the three regions, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, and Fezzan, to express their free will in the service of their regions, choose their representatives, draft a constitution for the country, and achieve national reconciliation.”
The speaker also praised the great progress made in the various UN-sponsored tracks, indicating that a political settlement is close to being achieved.
“We chose specific tracks to reach a comprehensive political settlement that ends with the formation of a presidential council, including a president and two deputies. As well as a government of national unity based in Sirte that will serve as a bridge linking the three regions of the country to restore confidence and achieve communication among the state institutions.”
Regarding the military track, Saleh pointed out that it ends with a ceasefire, control of the military and security units, and moving towards a consensus to unify the military establishment.
He affirmed that the new presidential council will be tasked with “working to remove foreign forces and mercenaries from the country, stopping negative foreign interference, and supporting the national unity government to play its primary role in improving the living conditions of citizens.”
Its tasks also include, “raising the standard of medical and educational services and preparing citizens to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 24, 2021,” Saleh added.
He called on the international community, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and the countries supporting a political solution, “to confront the attempts to obstruct the paths of a comprehensive political settlement and help the Libyans build their state.”
Earlier this month, 75 Libyan politicians from opposing camps convened virtually in a UN-initiated political forum and agreed to hold elections next year. However, they failed to break a deadlock on the selection mechanism for the transitional government that would run the country in the lead-up to the vote.