Tripoli, 06 June 2014 - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced a political dialogue initiative involving various influential Libyan actors, during a press conference convened by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Tarek Mitri on Thursday 05 June 2014 at the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Tripoli.

The meeting is to be held a week before the parliamentary elections scheduled on 25 June and will focus on discussing a declaration of principles binding on all parties. It will feature discussions on urgent and divisive issues in order to reach an agreement, or to narrow the rift, which will pave the way towards concluding the transitional period, beginning with elections.

During the conference, Mitri announced that this initiative enjoys the support of the international envoys, who have expressed their readiness to cooperate with UNSMIL in the preparation for this meeting and in helping ensure the initiative’s success, particularly concerning the implementation of what has been agreed upon. The talks are supported by several Libyan actors, chief among them the National Dialogue Preparatory Commission, which includes in its advisory council representatives of all national forces.

Mitri expressed the Mission’s hope that the reception to its call for dialogue be as positive as in the past, serving the Libyan national interest and rising above factional considerations interests and considerations.