Special Envoy for Libya convenes meeting of the LPDF to take stock of progress

27 Mar 2021

Special Envoy for Libya convenes meeting of the LPDF to take stock of progress

TRIPOLI, 27 March 2021 – The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ján Kubiš, held yesterday a virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

Addressing the LPDF members [Transcript of Opening Remarks], Special Envoy said, “Let me start by highly acknowledging the work of all of you, members of the LPDF. You have realized a historic achievement towards the unification and sovereignty of the country. You managed to get one government for the whole country. You did not only manage to create a unified executive authority that represents all the country but also managed to enable the constitutional authorities to live up to their responsibility and act upon their duties,” Special Envoy Kubiš said adding, “Your role remains relevant; the LPDF remains a key platform as the custodian of the achievements made and to ensure the follow up on the full implementation of the Roadmap’s objectives including  the holding of national elections on 24 December 2021.”

Special Envoy Kubiš also briefed the LPDF members on his outreach to the international community in the past weeks and reassured them that the “International community is fully aligned behind and committed to the LPDF Roadmap objectives.’”

 Mr. Kubiš further encouraged members of the Legal Committee to resolve their differences and continue to work constructively to develop sounds proposals for the constitutional basis for elections, which will be critical should the Parliament fail to adopt one.  SE Kubis emphasized the need to have an electoral framework in place by early July, based on the assessment of HNEC, to uphold the 24 December election date to which UNSMIL is fully committed with the aligned support of the international community.

Members of the LPDF raised a number of important issues, including that of the appointment of the sovereign positions, the return of IDPs, and the release of prisoners and of those under arbitrary arrest. Members also stressed the importance of the provision of basic services and of implementing an urgent response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Kubiš noted that UNSMIL will resume regular meetings of the LPDF on a range of issues for the overall oversight of the implementation of the objectives of the Roadmap. He stressed his commitment to support and advocate with the Libyan authorities the achievement of 30% representation of women in senior positions in the interim executive authority; to follow-up on the financial disclosure for the members of the interim executive authority, and on the implementation of an effective and swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall provision of basic services to the Libyan citizens. Mr. Kubis expressed also his full support for a rights-based national reconciliation process and called on the Government of National Unity to swiftly appoint a National Reconciliation Commission, which he recommended be headed by a woman.