US Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland has expressed his country’s strong support for the UN mission’s efforts to pave the way for dialogue in order to advance the political process.
Commenting on his meeting with Abdoulaye Bathily, the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, in Tripoli on Wednesday, Norland said that outstanding contentious files could only be resolved through dialogue and concessions.
The meeting was attended by Josh Harris, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Jeremy Brent, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, and touched on the importance of a unified plan for the reconstruction of Derna and flood-affected areas.
Norland explained that the US delegation discussed with Tamer Mostafa, the Egyptian Ambassador to Libya, ways through which Egypt and the United States could work with all Libyan parties to resolve the outstanding political issues and advance the political process.
He also pointed to the delegation’s discussion with President of the National Oil Corporation Farhat Bengdara over a strategy for increasing production.
For his part, Bathily stressed the importance of having what he described as “a unified Libyan leadership that works to achieve reconciliation, with concerted efforts and a common vision.”
On Tuesday evening, the American delegation held talks in Benghazi with Khalifa Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army.
Discussions underlined the importance of supporting the UN mission’s efforts to bring all sides together, and for Libyan leaders from all parties to cooperate to ensure an appropriate environment that enables the population to choose their representatives freely in the upcoming municipal elections.
The delegation also stressed the US support for the efforts made to unify the Libyan army, preserve Libyan sovereignty, and ensure that reconstruction efforts in Derna and other areas affected by the floods are implemented in a timely and transparent manner, based on expert assessments and the needs of the people.
