UN Envoy Visits Türkiye for Libyan Consensus on Elections

The UN envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (UNSMIL)
The UN envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (UNSMIL)
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UN Envoy Visits Türkiye for Libyan Consensus on Elections

The UN envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (UNSMIL)
The UN envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (UNSMIL)

UN envoy Abdoulaye Bathily met in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and discussed the overall situation in Libya as part of efforts by the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) to reach a consensus between the country’s different parties on the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

Bathily said his meeting with Fidan discussed the necessity of reaching a consensus between the relevant Libyan parties to strengthen the electoral process.

"We emphasized the need for consensus among the Libyan stakeholders to further the electoral process and called them to meet to negotiate on the politically contentious issues pertaining to elections."

The UN mission commented in a statement on the election laws issued by the House of Representatives, praising the efforts of the 6+6 Joint Committee in drafting them.

"UNSMIL commends the efforts of the 6+6 Joint Committee in drafting these laws, which represent a compromise amongst the members of the Committee and expresses its appreciation for the progress achieved despite the challenges and pressures faced by members of the 6+6."

The issues, which constitute a further manifestation of the lack of trust among Libyan political, military, and security actors, include provision for a mandatory second round for the presidential elections, regardless of the vote obtained by candidates.

They also relate to the provision linking the presidential and parliamentary elections, making the National Assembly elections contingent on the success of the presidential elections.

The Mission considered these issues "political in nature and required a national compromise to take the country to elections."

Therefore, the Mission calls on significant stakeholders to come forward in good faith and engage in a constructive dialogue to address these long-standing issues.

Regarding the situation in Derna, UNSMIL official and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Georgette Gagnon said that the UN renewed its commitment to the affected citizens a month after Storm Daniel struck the area.

Gagnon stressed that work continues in the city, pointing out that the international organization was present with its partners to help the afflicted Libyans during the past weeks by providing water, health care, food, and other support.

She stressed that the UN would remain on the ground until the situation is resolved and people get what they need.

Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration announced that an estimated 43,421 individuals remain displaced after Storm Daniel in northeastern Libya last September.

The organization indicated that displaced households from Derna have continued relocating to western municipalities, with six percent of displaced individuals in west Libya.

Most displaced individuals remain in eastern Libyan municipalities, the most significant shares of whom are in Derna, Benghazi, al-Bayda, Shahat, and Tobruk.



Trump's Syria Policy Dominates Opening of 'Astana 22' Talks

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
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Trump's Syria Policy Dominates Opening of 'Astana 22' Talks

The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia and Iran meet in New York in September. (Turkish Foreign Ministry)

The 22nd round of the Astana peace talks on Syria kicked off in Kazakhstan’s capital on Monday. The talks, held over two days, brought together Syria’s government, opposition and guarantor states Russia, Iran and Türkiye, with observers from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and the UN.

The talks, initiated by Russia and supported by Türkiye and Iran, will focus on key issues such as the potential shifts in US policy toward Syria under President-elect Donald Trump, according to Russian presidential envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev.

The talks will also address regional tensions, including the spread of the Gaza conflict into Lebanon, ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Syria and concerns over the risk of the regional conflict expanding further.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stressed the importance of meeting before the end of the year to set priorities for Syria and the region.

This comes after the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed a “secret” Russian-Syrian agreement to limit the movement of Hezbollah, Iranian forces and Iranian-backed militias in Syria.

As well as the Syrian conflict, the talks will cover issues such as prisoner releases, missing persons, humanitarian conditions, international support for peace efforts, Syria’s reconstruction and the return of refugees.

The current round of talks will focus on the political and military situation around Syria.

Lavrentiev said Russia will do everything possible to prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading to Syria.

Potential changes in US policy toward Syria under Trump are a major topic for discussion among the ceasefire guarantors, he added. Russia will focus on concrete actions and proposals, rather than just statements, especially as expectations grow that Trump will follow through on his pledge to withdraw US troops from Syria.

This move could shift the balance of power and affect the actions of various parties. The withdrawal is a key demand for Russia, Iran and Türkiye, the three guarantor states of the Astana process.