New UN envoy holds talks with Libyan officials

NEW YORK: Jan Kubis, the UN secretary-general’s new special envoy for Libya, held phone conversations with the head of the country’s presidential council, its foreign minister, and the president of the House of Representatives.

This came on the heels of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) meeting in Geneva, where its 74 members elected an interim authority tasked with preparing and guiding the nation toward “the sacred goal” of general elections on Dec. 24.

Kubis, who is also head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, noted Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah’s intention to form an inclusive Cabinet within the timeline set by the LPDF roadmap adopted in Tunis.

The envoy told his interlocutors that the UN is committed to building on the momentum generated by the security and economic progress achieved by the LPDF, including a cease-fire agreement.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council (UNSC) issued its endorsement of the agreement reached by the LPDF on a new, temporary executive authority “as an important milestone in the Libyan political process.”

In a statement on behalf of its members, the president of the UNSC urged the interim authority to swiftly form a new government, improve services, launch a comprehensive national reconciliation process, and make the necessary preparations ahead of the agreed presidential and parliamentary elections in December.

Implementing the October 2020 cease-fire deal is crucial, the statement said, urging member states “to respect and support the full implementation of the agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without further delay.”

The UNSC called for full compliance with the arms embargo in line with relevant resolutions. It underlined the importance of “a credible and effective Libyan-led Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism under UN auspices and (welcoming) the critical steps towards UN support for the mechanism through the swift deployment of a UN advance team to Libya.”

UNSC members said they look forward to receiving proposals on the tasks and scale of the cease-fire monitoring mechanism from the secretary-general.

The statement also emphasized the role of neighboring countries and regional organizations in supporting these UN efforts.

UNSC members renewed their commitments to “the UN-facilitated Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process and to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity” of the country.