Cairo, Nov. 10, (dpa/GNA) – Libya’s rival parties on Monday began UN-brokered direct political talks in a bid to find a time frame for national elections, in the latest effort to end years of war in the North African country.
The process should begin with the creation of “a new and unified” government that can oversee the elections, said Stephanie Williams, the acting head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, at the meeting held in Tunisia.
For years, the United Nations and Western powers have tried to work with the warring sides to pave the way for elections, but those plans never took shape.
“The overriding aim of the National Political Program is to renew political legitimacy by holding national elections, within an agreed time frame. There will be no more delays,” Williams told the first session of the meeting.
The new government will put in place the necessary conditions for the elections to take place and work to launch national reconciliation, combat corruption and restore public services, she said.
In recent months, protests demanding better services erupted in western areas controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Fayez Serraj.
Demonstrators also took to the streets of eastern Benghazi city, controlled by military strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces.
Williams urged participants not to let the international community and the Libyan people down.
“They have been disappointed in the failure of previous efforts to solve the crisis, and they have been disappointed by the self-interested actions of some in the Libyan political class, who have failed to unite the country behind them,” she said.
The six-day meetings of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Tunis are attended by 75 delegates from Libya. The forum conducted its first meeting online late last month.
In an opening speech to the participants, Tunisian President Kais Saied called for a unification effort. “I urge you to focus on a unified Libya; there is no room for a divided Libya. Some talk about East and West, but the Libyan people are one,” he said.
He urged those who will be in charge of the transitional period to not run in later presidential and parliamentary elections to avert tensions.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the warring sides to find a middle ground. “Compromise is the only approach that will pave the road to national unity,” he said in a recorded message.
“You can count on the United Nations to support your efforts, and I call on the international community to provide its strong backing as well, including by ensuring full adherence to the Security Council arms embargo,” Guterres said.
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of long-time ruler Moamer Gaddafi. It became a battleground for rival proxy forces that has drawn in foreign powers.
Turkey is the main backer of the Tripoli government and has sent military personnel and equipment to back it up.
Haftar is backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, with reports suggesting he also receives military support.
Earlier this year, a UN internal report said hundreds of mercenaries from a Russian paramilitary security firm have been fighting on Haftar’s side.
GNA