UN seeks leader for transition amid new Libyan objections
The nearly 75 Libyan representatives gathered in Tunis under the auspices of the United Nations began today to discuss the profile of the possible candidates to lead the new government of national unity that will have to protect the pacification of the country and the political transition towards the December 24 elections. of 2021 agreed on Friday, sources close to the meeting informed Efe.
Several of the attendees raised objections both to the mechanism and to the proposals of the head of the UN Special Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams, who this Saturday canceled her usual press conference.
The meeting was also altered by the common condition set by both the Parliament in the eastern city of Tobrouk, as well as by the Higher Council of State, in Tripoli, and the Constituent Committee that the drafting of the Magna Carta be concluded first. and submit to a popular referendum.
In a joint statement, the three agencies asked UNSMIL to support the constitutional process and help clear the way for the consultation, since without this step "the transition would not meet the expectations of the Libyan people."
The three bodies recalled that the text has been drawn up by independent experts and endorsed by the Supreme Court, which establishes that no authority can annul the work of the elected constituent body except the Libyan people themselves.
Political and military dialogue
The political dialogue has been taking place since Monday in Tunis, although without the presence of either the head of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord held by the United Nations in Tripoli (GNA), Fayez al Serraj, nor of Marshal Jalifa Hafter, tutor of the Executive. recognized in the east and strong man of the country.
In parallel, the 5 + 5 Military Committee met this week in the Libyan city of Sirte, which seats military officials from the two opposing governments with the aim of consolidating the truce agreed three weeks ago after 18 months of heavy fighting.
The committee sealed a plan to accelerate the departure of foreign mercenaries, demining the combat zones, return the forces to their barracks and reopen the coastal highway, which links the two main regions of the country and is its main commercial artery. .
Meeting between Turkey and Tripoli
The new effort spurred by the UN has been coldly welcomed by Libyan experts and officials due to the reluctance of both Turkey and Russia, the main supporters of the GNA and the unrecognized Executive in the east that Hafter supervises.
Although Moscow and Ankara have accepted the ceasefire, they are reluctant to meet the other two conditions established by the 5 + 5 Committee: the departure of the thousands of foreign mercenaries fighting in the country and the suspension of all military and economic agreements. signed with other States until the formation of the aforementioned new transitional government.
In addition, both states hold parallel bilateral negotiations outside the UN and with the opposing Libyan governments, such as the one held this Saturday in Ankara by the Turkish Defense Ministers, Hulusi Akar, and the GNA, Salah El-Din Al-Namroush.
According to official sources, the two ministers reviewed the current situation in Libya and reinforced the collaboration agreements signed for the training of the militias and their inclusion in what they intend to be the future regular Army of Libya.
