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European, US Officials Reiterate Importance of Holding Libyan Elections on Time

The High National Elections Commission discusses arrangements for launching electoral awareness campaigns (the HNEC)
The High National Elections Commission discusses arrangements for launching electoral awareness campaigns (the HNEC)
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European, US Officials Reiterate Importance of Holding Libyan Elections on Time

The High National Elections Commission discusses arrangements for launching electoral awareness campaigns (the HNEC)
The High National Elections Commission discusses arrangements for launching electoral awareness campaigns (the HNEC)

Officials from France, Germany, Italy, and the US have reiterated the importance of implementing the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Roadmap, which would lead to holding the Libyan elections scheduled in December.

UN Special Envoy to Libya Jan Kubisch, accompanied by Assistant Secretary-General/UNSMIL Coordinator Raisedon Zenenga, held a meeting on Tuesday with Special Envoys, Ambassadors and other senior officials representing France, UK, US, Germany and Italy in the P3+2 format.

The aim of the meeting was to advance the implementation of the LPDF Roadmap leading up to the holding of national elections on December 24, and the full implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

An official from the Independent High Electoral Commission told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper there is a race against time to ensure that the elections are held on time.

The meeting’s participants reiterated the importance of committing to the date of elections on 24 December and of expediting the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters and forces from Libya, in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, including the recently adopted UNSCRs 2570 (2021) and 2571 (2021).

“The meeting also discussed possible next steps to implement the LPDF Roadmap and the UNSC Resolutions,” UNSMIL said in a statement on its website.

It further added that “within the same context and objectives and in the light of the political and security situation in Libya and the region, the Special Envoy held telephone conversations with high -level representatives of the GIS of Egypt, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov and NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană.”

In an attempt to resolve the obstacles hindering holding the elections on time, Minister of Finance Khaled Al-Mabrouk met with Chairman of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) Imad Al-Sayeh.

Mabrouk stressed the importance of the role entrusted to the commission, underscoring the need to give it full support.

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Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
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Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Friday Hezbollah to engage with the Lebanese army and devise a plan to dismantle its military infrastructure south and north of the Litani river.

In a press conference Friday, Geagea criticized Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel and accused the Shiite group of committing a “major crime” against the Lebanese people.

“We could have done without the martyrdom of more than 4,000 people, the displacement of thousands and the destruction across the country,” he said. “Despite all these tragedies, Hezbollah continues to talk about a victory using a bizarre and disconnected logic that has no basis in reality.”

Geagea’s comments came two days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. More than 3,900 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated.

Geagea, whose Lebanese Forces Party holds the largest bloc in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament, also addressed Lebanon’s presidential deadlock. The country has been without a president for more than two years.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a session for presidential elections in January. "Consultations with opposition factions and our allies will begin in the coming days to explore the possibility of agreeing on presidential candidates and bringing them to parliament,” Geagea said.