Five countries issue a joint statement on the Libyan elections
Libyan Cloud News Agency – Tripoli
The United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement about the Libyan elections on Friday.
The five countries welcomed the statement of the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, on 23 December and commended her work to engage in broad consultations across Libya over the past ten days.
They expressed their strong support for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Support mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to further a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process towards the holding of free, fair and inclusive elections.
“We take note of the High National Electoral Commission’s (HNEC) statement of 22 December on the postponement of the ballot scheduled on 24 December and its proposal for a new, early date on which to hold those elections. We call on the relevant Libyan authorities to respect the aspirations of the Libyan people for prompt elections by swiftly determining a final date for the polling and issuing the final list of presidential candidates without delay.” The statement read.
They recalled their understanding that the transfer of power from the current interim executive authority to the new executive authority shall take place following the announcement of the results of such early and prompt parliamentary and presidential elections.
“To avoid conflicts of interests and to promote a level playing field, candidates holding roles in public institutions should also continue vacating them until the announcement of the electoral results.” They noted
The five countries reiterated UNSMIL’s call for disagreements on emerging political or military matters to be resolved without resorting to violence, expressing their readiness to hold to account those who threaten the stability or undermine the political and electoral process in Libya, through violence, or the incitement of violence.
They affirmed that individuals or entities, inside or outside Libya, who obstruct, undermine, manipulate or falsify the electoral process and the political transition will be held accountable and may be designated by the United Nations sanctions committee in accordance with UNSC resolution 2571.
