UN Envoy Supports Efforts Made in Bouznika Dialogue to Resolve Libyan Crisis

The acting UN envoy to Libya Stephanie Williams supported the efforts made within the framework of the inter-Libyan dialogue in Bouznika, Morocco, aimed at contributing to the success of the UN-led process in order to find a solution to the Libyan crisis.

Speaking about her participation in the inter-Libyan dialogue in Bouznika, in an interview on Saturday with the satellite channel “Al-Arabia”, Williams described as “very good” her visit to Morocco late August, noting that she is in permanent contact with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita, as well as with other officials of the Moroccan government.

Referring to the continuation of this dialogue, the UN official stressed that the discussions focused mainly on article 15 of the Libyan political agreement, relating to key positions, such as the Central Bank, the head of the Anti-corruption Commission, the president of the High Electoral Commission, the Public prosecutor and the president of the Judiciary Council.

She recalled that the talks in Bouznika between the delegations of the Libyan High Council of State and the Parliament of Tobruk mainly touched on the skills required to be appointed to these positions and that the discussions should not mention specific names, noting that the recommendations will then be submitted to the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum for consideration.

“From what I understood from my discussions with Moroccan officials, there is a desire to bring together the presidents of the Libyan High Council of State Khaled Al Mechri and of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh, to approve and sign together the agreement concluded by the two delegations”, said Williams, expressing her support for this initiative and for all efforts aimed at ensuring the success of this UN-brokered process, in the interest of both Libyan parties. 

In addition, the UN envoy insisted that the objective remains the holding of elections likely to provide a response to the deep crisis linked to legitimacy in Libya, noting that the establishment of a democratically-elected Parliament in a constitutional framework would be the final phase towards stability in Libya, which is a decision to be taken by the Libyan people.

The UN official also expressed her satisfaction with the lifting of the blockade on Libyan oil, noting that “oil production has resumed, with the possibility of exporting it and producing electricity in the country, which is very positive”.

The delegations of the Libyan High Council of State and the Parliament of Tobruk announced, at the end of the meetings held within the framework of the inter-Libyan dialogue (Sept. 06-10 in Bouznika), that they had reached a global agreement on transparent and objective criteria and mechanisms for holding key positions.