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UN: Libyan dialogue failed to agree on constitutional basis

July 3, 2021 at 3:08 pm

A Libyan man waves his national flag in Benghazi, Libya on 27 February 2015 [ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP/Getty Images]

Coordinator of the UN Mission in Libya, Raisedon Zenenga, announced on Friday the conclusion of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Geneva, without succeeding to reach an agreement on the constitutional basis.

At the concluding session on the fifth day of the LPDF meetings, the UN official called on its members to “pursue a compromise solution that unites the Libyan parties, continue consultations between members, and seek a solution that enhances your unity.”

In his speech, which was broadcast on television channels, Zenenga added: “We will continue to work with you and the Consensus Committee to explore further efforts to build common ground that would be discussed in the forum again.”

He continued: “We have not succeeded in reaching an agreement on the constitutional basis, which does not bode well.”

He indicated that “the three proposals were submitted on the constitutional basis, and the participants in the forum did not reach a common ground on the mechanism for holding the elections.”

The forum started discussing the Advisory Committee’s proposals regarding constitutional rule on the basis of which the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 24 December will be held.

The LPDF Advisory Committee recommended postponing the referendum on the draft constitution until after the elections.

Libya suffers from the repercussions of an armed conflict that has lasted for years.

With the support of Arab and Western countries as well as mercenaries and foreign fighters, the militia of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar fought the former internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

However, Libya witnessed a political breakthrough on 16 March when an elected transitional authority, comprising a government of national unity and a presidential council, assumed its duties to lead the country to elections.