Excerpts from SRSG Bernardino Leon’s Press Conference in Skhirat, late Wednesday 07 October 2015

8 Oct 2015

Excerpts from SRSG Bernardino Leon’s Press Conference in Skhirat, late Wednesday 07 October 2015

After consultations with all the Libyans participating in this national dialogue, I come here to tell you that despite that we have been waiting for the GNC to make a decision today, and unfortunately this decision has not been the one we were expecting in terms of proposing names for the national unity government. But we have decided to go on and we will continue working on the formation of this unity government, and hopefully tomorrow we will be able to propose this government.


None of the obstacles we know that we are facing will prevent the national dialogue to propose this government, a government of unity, a strong government that will reunite all the Libyans and will allow Libya to overcome the security crisis, the humanitarian crisis that it is facing.

So the message tonight is a message of unity. It’s a message of trust. We know well that there are many Libyans who are confused after what has happened today. Let me say that after consulting with many people inside and outside Tripoli, all over Libya. I can tell them we will prevail, that we will be able to propose a government tomorrow. And this government, this agreement, which is not going to change, this agreement that is final, as it was said very clearly by the international community last Friday, will be supported by the huge majority of the Libyans. And let me also enhance this and reiterate this, this government and this agreement will be supported by a huge majority of the Libyans all over the country, including of course Tripoli.

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Question: You say the people of Tripoli support this agreement but how can the government operate from Tripoli if the GNC controls it …?

Leon: Well, it has been a very long day, as I said, and we’ve had the opportunity to talk to a lot of people. So we will know exactly what is the extent of the decision that has been taken today. But what I can tell you is that our impression now is that a huge majority of the Libyans, and this includes a huge majority of Tripoli, and this includes we want also to think that the huge majority of the members of the GNC are ready to support a peaceful solution, a political agreement without changes and a unity government that should be announced tomorrow.

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OK, so see you tomorrow and hopefully with good news.