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.



UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Lebanon Has Recorded over 30 Incidents Resulting in Damage

A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
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UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Lebanon Has Recorded over 30 Incidents Resulting in Damage

A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher

The UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon says it has recorded over 30 incidents resulting in damage to UN property or premises or injuring peacekeepers
Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the mission known as UNIFIL, told a video press conference from Beirut Wednesday that it attributed about 20 of the incidents to Israeli military fire or actions, “with seven being clearly deliberate.”
In an incident Tuesday, he said, a rocket likely fired by Hezbollah or an affiliated group hit UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqura, setting a workshop on fire, with some peacekeepers suffering minor injuries, according to The Associated Press.
The origin of the fire couldn’t be determined for about a dozen incidents, he said.
“What has been very concerning are incidents where peacekeepers performing their monitoring tasks, as well as our cameras, lighting and entire watch towners, have been deliberately targeted,” Tenenti said.
He stressed that the actions of both Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters are putting peacekeepers in danger, whether through deliberate acts or crossfire.
“Despite a very tense situation, UNIFIL continues to stay in contact with Lebanese and Israeli authorities urging de-escalation,” he said.
Even with the dramatic surge in exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in the past few weeks, Tenenti said UNIFIL has also been working hard behind the scenes to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid by UN agencies and their local partners.