Distinguished members of the Smaller Convening and the parties to the agreement,
Your excellencies, the Vice President of the Presidential Council, Mousa Al-Koni, Members of the House of Representatives and the High State Council who are here with us today,
Excellencies, Ambassadors, and representatives of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya,
Good morning,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you this morning as we gather to witness the signing of the agreement resulting from intensive consultations and a shared commitment to advancing Libya's political process.
Today, we witness another important milestone in Libya's journey toward stability and national unity. This achievement contributes to the implementation of the political roadmap announced in my briefing to the Security Council on 21 August 2025 and advances our collective efforts to create the conditions necessary for the holding of national elections and the unification of Libya's institutions.
The agreement, which will shortly be presented by its signatories, those being representatives of the Government of National Unity, the General Command of the Libyan National Army, and members of the High Council of State and the House of Representatives, is the outcome of discussions that began in Rome, Italy on 29 April and continued through seven rounds of talks in UNSMIL’s premises in Tunis, Tunisia. Their focus was on addressing the first two steps of the Roadmap; that being, the reconstitution of the High National Elections Commission Board of Commissioners, and the amendments required to the legal and constitutional frameworks to facilitate the holding of credible and inclusive elections.
The achievement of the two delegations, and please be assured this is the achievement of the two delegations, not us, reflects the seriousness, commitment, and sense of national responsibility that has been demonstrated by the parties to this process, who engaged constructively, placed Libya's interest above narrow political considerations, and showed that meaningful progress can be achieved through dialogue and flexibility. I would like to commend the Government of National Unity and the General Command of the Libyan National Army for these efforts.
Excellencies, distinguished guests,
What distinguished the Smaller Convening, or the 4+4 process as some refer to it, was its ability to bring together key Libyan executive and legislative stakeholders with the authority and political influence necessary to advance the steps of the political process.
I’m glad that we have two Leaders of delegations who are capable of taking decisions without arguing with each other, not necessarily agreeing the first time but eventually coming together and making it possible with these discussions.
Their engagement proved instrumental in achieving tangible progress following eight months during which the High Council of State and the House of Representatives made little to no headway in reaching agreement on the first two steps of the Roadmap. Recognizing this, UNSMIL facilitated a process through which these actors could address their differences and work toward consensus on these two critical elements of the political roadmap.
I recognise that some Libyan stakeholders may be dissatisfied with the path UNSMIL has chosen to pursue following this eight-month impasse. But I hope moving forward that they will engage constructively with the agreement and contribute to its expedited endorsement and implementation. UNSMIL remains firmly committed to working with Libyan institutions and a broad range of Libyan stakeholders to advance the political process and support a sustainable path forward.
Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
The signing of this agreement today marks an important step forward. It is now essential that all stakeholders build on this achievement and continue to work together to implement its provisions within the envisaged timeframe. By maintaining this momentum, we can advance the remaining stages of the political roadmap and create conditions necessary for elections within a clear and non-extendable timeframe. These elections are essential. Not only do they foster a culture of having them regularly held so that the institutions become accountable to the Libyan people but they also become more capable and resilient institutions to address Libya’s complex economic, security or political challenges.
The holding of elections is but one part of the Roadmap I articulated to the Security Council. As we work to advance elections, we will also continue in supporting Libyan efforts to unify Libyan institutions and address critical priorities in governance, basic services and economic reforms, and drivers of conflict, as identified through the Structured Dialogue and their outcomes. Despite their importance, these priorities have yet to be adequately addressed and remain central to Libya’s path toward sustainable peace and stability.
Before inviting the parties to present the key elements of the agreement, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to members of the international community, representatives of the Berlin process, and the diplomatic corps in Libya for their continued support of the Libyan people and their aspiration for a peaceful and sustainable political solution. Your engagement remains vital, and I encourage the international and regional partners to continue supporting Libyan institutions in implementing this agreement and the political process.
The work of the Smaller Convening, as well as the work of the Advisory Committee and the Structured Dialogue, are part of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process facilitated by UNSMIL. All have played a critical role in addressing some of the political challenges that have yet to come, and we very much look forward to continuing to work with all of them to make progress towards completing Libya's constitutional and electoral milestones as well as advancing critical governance reforms to foster stability.
I’d also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Italian and Tunisian authorities for their support and hospitality in facilitating the Smaller Convening process and making possible the achievement we are celebrating today.
Thank you