The UN's Libya envoy told the Security Council on Monday that he will launch a new initiative aimed at enabling presidential and legislative elections to take place in 2023.
Abdoulaye Bathily, special representative of the Secretary General for Libya, said he will establish a high-level steering panel that will bring together all “relevant” Libyan stakeholders.
These include representatives of political institutions, major political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organisations and others, he said.
The aim is for them to reach a consensus on elections while not supplanting any relevant Libyan institutions.
The UN envoy highlighted the Libyan people's frustration with the lack of elections: They were originally scheduled for December 2021 but have yet to happen amid disagreements over election laws.
“Libyans are impatient. They question the will and desire of political actors to hold inclusive and transparent elections in 2023,” Mr Bathily said.
The elections-enabling mechanism will seek to finalise the constitutional basis and a road map with “clear” steps towards elections.
Since the failure to hold a vote in December 2021, Libya’s political leaders have gone around in circles with competing proposals for the constitutional basis of elections.
The country has two competing governments and acting prime ministers.
In February 2022, a coalition of parliamentarians in eastern Libya sought to exploit the stalemate created by the failed national elections and nominated Fathi Bashagha as prime minister-designate of a new Government of National Stability.
The goal was to challenge Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, appointed interim prime minister of Libya in 2021, and prevent his western-backed Tripoli-based Government of National Unity from ruling.
The development ran counter to UN efforts to end internal strife in Libya.
Mr Bathily said Libya’s political class is undergoing a “major legitimacy crisis”.
The UAE’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Abu Shahab, noted that the political stalemate has “not only prolonged the process and made it repetitive, but it has also taken a turn which does not serve the national interests of the Libyan people”.
“Therefore, we do not see a way out of this political impasse other than coming together and supporting Mr Bathily’s efforts in enabling Libyans in reaching a Libyan-owned political settlement that is acceptable to all parties,” he said.
Barbara Woodward, Britain’s ambassador to the UN, welcomed the UN envoy’s commitment to “reinvigorating the political process to deliver elections for Libya”.
“We have a clear opportunity to progress long term stability and meet the expectations of the country,” she said.
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
