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UNSMIL Calls for Coordinating Int’l Efforts to Hold Libya Elections

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily speaks during a meeting with Arab Foreign Ministers in the capital of Tripoli, Sunday Jan. 22, 2023. (AP)
Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily speaks during a meeting with Arab Foreign Ministers in the capital of Tripoli, Sunday Jan. 22, 2023. (AP)
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UNSMIL Calls for Coordinating Int’l Efforts to Hold Libya Elections

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily speaks during a meeting with Arab Foreign Ministers in the capital of Tripoli, Sunday Jan. 22, 2023. (AP)
Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily speaks during a meeting with Arab Foreign Ministers in the capital of Tripoli, Sunday Jan. 22, 2023. (AP)

Special Representative of the UN Sec-Gen and head of UN Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily reiterated his calls to all international parties concerned with Libya to coordinate efforts and positions in support of holding elections and achieving peace and stability in the country.

Bathily met France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna and discussed political and security developments in Libya and the need to for support a Libyan-Libyan process to facilitate inclusive, transparent elections in 2023.

"I called for international stakeholders to unify their positions and speak with one voice to support elections and fulfill Libyan's aspirations for peace and stability," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, head of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah discussed with Chairman of the Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi the executive steps related to the elections.

They also reviewed the government's preparations for holding the elections, preparing the poll stations, and increasing coordination with the General Elections Commission.

Meanwhile, armed militias loyal to the Dbeibah government closed the al-Hira gate in Gharyan to prevent him from visiting the city to open youth hostels. They accused him of reneging on pledges and relocating some projects from the city to other areas.

Eyewitnesses and local media reported that commander of the "Bou Ghalyan Martyrs Brigade" in Gharyan, Nasser Shatiba, ordered his members to close the western entrance to the city.

The armed groups also continued to close the Dafniya road in Misrata, demanding the government pay financial dues in exchange for reopening it.

Separately, Dbeibah did not comment on reports that said he had held secret talks with one of the sons of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA).

Meanwhile, Menfi discussed with the Chairman of National Oil Corporation, Farhat ben Qadara, the challenges facing the oil sector.

Furthermore, the head of Libya's government of stability, Fathi Bashagha, said that he discussed with the defense minister, Ahmid Homa, in Sirte, the ministry's plan to support the work of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) to unify the military.

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US Envoy Says Israel's Turn to 'Comply' as Lebanon Moves to Disarm Hezbollah

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency press office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) meeting with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (2-R), senior adviser at US Mission to the UN, Morgan Ortagus (2-L) and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. EPA/LEBANESE PRESIDENCY HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency press office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) meeting with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (2-R), senior adviser at US Mission to the UN, Morgan Ortagus (2-L) and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. EPA/LEBANESE PRESIDENCY HANDOUT
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US Envoy Says Israel's Turn to 'Comply' as Lebanon Moves to Disarm Hezbollah

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency press office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) meeting with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (2-R), senior adviser at US Mission to the UN, Morgan Ortagus (2-L) and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. EPA/LEBANESE PRESIDENCY HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency press office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) meeting with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (2-R), senior adviser at US Mission to the UN, Morgan Ortagus (2-L) and US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A. EPA/LEBANESE PRESIDENCY HANDOUT

US envoy Tom Barrack on Monday called on Israel to honor commitments under a ceasefire that ended its war with Hezbollah, after the Lebanese government launched a process to disarm the militant group. 

Under the November truce agreement, weapons in Lebanon were to be restricted to the state and Israel was to fully withdraw its troops from the country, although it has kept forces at five border points it deems strategic. 

"I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They've taken the first step. Now what we need is Israel to comply," Barrack said following a meeting in Beirut with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. 

The meeting was also attended by Morgan Ortagus, Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East . 

Asked by reporters about whether he expected to see Israel fully withdraw from Lebanese territory, Barrack said that "that's exactly the next step" needed. 

To the US diplomat, "the next step is we need participation on the part of Israel, and we need an economic plan for prosperity, restoration and renovation" in Lebanon, weighed down by dire political and economic crises in recent years. 

Barrack said Washington was "in the process of now discussing with Israel what their position is", adding that "in the next few weeks you're going to see progress on all sides." 

"It means a better life for the people... and at least the beginning of a roadway to a different kind of dialogue" in the region, he said. 

The US diplomat's visit comes less than two weeks after Lebanon's cabinet tasked the army with developing a plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah by the end of the year -- an unprecedented step since civil war factions gave up their weapons decades ago. 

A second cabinet meeting on August 7 tackled a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Lebanon to take action on the matter. 

The cabinet endorsed the introduction of the US text, which lists 11 objectives including "ensuring the sustainability" of the November ceasefire agreement with Israel, and "the gradual end of the armed presence of all non-governmental entities, including Hezbollah, in all Lebanese territory". 

Israel routinely carries out air strikes in Lebanon despite the ceasefire, and has signaled it would not hesitate to launch destructive military operations if Beirut failed to disarm Hezbollah. 

Barrack on Monday stressed that "dealing with Hezbollah, as we've always said, is a Lebanese process".