United Nations special envoy to Libya Stephanie Williams

Stephanie Williams, the UN Special Advisor on Libya has expressed optimism that the Libyan elections will be held next June.

Williams is on a visit to Turkey and disclosed she met with various Turkish officials including Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Unal in Ankara and held consultations regarding the Libya file.

In an interview with Anatolia agency, Williams expressed that the UN played an important role in Libya to support the Libyan people and upheld negotiation efforts regarding the country's future.

Williams indicated that the Berlin conference and the relevant security council resolutions provided an international umbrella that contributed to bringing Libyans together, emphasizing that the UN is the most impartial actor in the process of bringing Libyan parties under one roof.

The UN envoy also praised Turkey's efforts to resolve the crisis in Libya, noting it contributed to the efforts to bring the parties of the Lybian crisis together.

Regarding the roadmap that was developed and negotiated by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in November 2020 and the unfinished election process, Williams said the Libyan Parliament has established a committee to develop a roadmap through consultation with the country's actors.

The committee is expected to present its report and recommendations to Parliament on January 25.

Two days before the presidential elections were scheduled for December 24, 2021, an informed source told Sputnik they would be postponed.

It is noteworthy that June 2022 is the deadline for implementing the agreed-upon political dialogue forum, which includes "inclusive and democratic national elections."

No prevailing opinion in Libya

Williams explained that she visited various regions in Libya, from the east to the west, and spoke to Libyans about their various opinions.

According to her, some say there is a need for a constitutional basis for the continuation of elections, others want to put the draft constitution to a referendum, and others want the list of presidential candidates to be subject to judicial review to remove obstruction and moe directly to elections.

She considered that there is not a single prevailing view in the Libya arena and the UN participates in this political process and understands the complexities associated with each opinion.

Desire to reach consensus

Williams noted that all parties in Libya desire to continue negotiations, emphasizing that if their will is found, then negotiations can take place in good faith.

She indicated that Libya needs permanent, democratically elected institutions capable of providing the necessary security for the population, highlighting that the best way for this to happen is if Libyans head to polls.

Elections can be held until June

Regarding the timetable proposed by the UN for the Libyan elections, Williams stressed that the roadmap is approved by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum which extends until June of this year.

So far, there is no new date for the elections, as the Commission has proposed postponing it to January 24, while Parliament has proposed holding it after 6 months.

Williams noted that very positive developments occurred during the last month, as the Libyan arena witnessed the holding of two important meetings between representatives of the Libyan East and West on the unification of the military and the Central Bank.

The special envoy considered that Libyans are in a positive atmosphere toward achieving lasting peace and calm, noting that she does not see any desire on their part to engage in war and are using civilized discourse.

Solution is not in new transitional government

Williams stressed the need to continue to achieve national reconciliation and transitional justice.

On the possibility of forming another transitional government in Libya, Williams said the focus in the next stage should be on completing the electoral process in order to achieve a stable political ground that leads to an elected government, an elected president, and a more permanent situation with a strong legal and constitutional foundation.