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.
