Panafrican News Agency

UN chief thanks former special adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams for dedication to solve crisis

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, has expressed his sincere gratitude to Ms. Stephanie Williams, who has just concluded her assignment as his Special Adviser on Libya.

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Mr. Guterres said in a statement on Monday that the UN chief is thankful for her service to the organisation and her dedication in pursuit of a solution to the political crisis in Libya.

"Ms. Williams’ deep knowledge and experience of Libya, and her remarkable ability to foster conditions conducive for dialogue and consensus among all stakeholders, has led to key achievements in the political, security and economic dialogue tracks," the statement said.

It noted that Ms. Williams made "critical contributions to the signing of a nation-wide ceasefire agreement in October 2020, to the adoption of the political roadmap by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in November 2020, and to the unprecedented level of consensus achieved in the Joint Committee of the House of Representatives and the High State Council on a constitutional framework for elections".

Mr. Dujarric said the Secretary-General has reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support "a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process" to address outstanding challenges and ensure the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible. 

Ms. Williams ended her mission on Sunday reiterating her belief that it is only a consensual constitutional framework that would end the current political stalemate and recurrent executive crisis.

The establishment of a constitutional framework would set the milestones, the contract between the governed and those who govern them, and the guardrails for the end of the transitional period through national elections, she said in a statement.

"Libyan leaders have a clear responsibility towards their fellow citizens and future generations to make the necessary historic compromises to enable the needed breakthroughs," Ms. Williams said.

-0- PANA MA 1Aug2022