Panafrican News Agency

Ahmed Aboul Gheit reaffirms to Abdoulaye Bathily his support for intra-Libyan solution

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has reaffirmed his support for all efforts to end the crisis in Libya through a Libyan-Libyan solution.

He has, therefore, reiterated his support for the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily.

This was during a telephone conversation Bathily had with Gheit devoted to reviewing the contacts he had established with the concerned parties in Libya and at the regional level in an effort to achieve the electoral process on an agreed constitutional basis, said a statement issued by the Arab League reported by Al-Wasat newspaper.

The spokesperson of the Arab League Secretary General, Jamal Rouchdi, said that Gheit called on the actors in Libya to respond to the efforts to end the crisis to preserve the unity, sovereignty and stability of the country.

At the end of October, Gheit presented to Bathily elements of the Arab position on the Libyan file during a meeting in Algeria on the sidelines of the activities of the 49th session of the Arab League Council at the summit in Algeria.

According to a statement issued by the League, during the meeting, Gheit affirmed the Arab League's support for his mission and presented the elements of the Arab position on the Libyan file, including the need to take measures to establish a constitutional basis on which elections will be held.

He also renewed "the demand for the exit of mercenaries, foreign fighters and all foreign forces from Libyan territory".

Mr Gheit and Mr Bathily also agreed "to continue the work and close coordination between the Arab League and the UN to find a way for a solution in Libya that leads to the holding of elections and the preservation of the unity of the country and its institutions".

Efforts are currently underway under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Head of the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to revive the electoral process which has been stalled since the postponement of elections last December.

The holding of parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya is still hampered by the failure of the parliament and the High Council to reach a consensus on the eligibility of dual nationals and the military.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/RA 2Dec2022