“We urge the relevant Libyan authorities to respect the desire of the Libyan people to conduct the elections quickly, by setting a deadline as soon as possible for the vote and to publish the final list of candidates without further delay,” the joint statement read. , issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (24.12).
The High Electoral Commission in Libya, on Wednesday (22/12), proposed postponing the first presidential elections in the history of the former Italian colony, due to the dispute between the political and judicial authorities over the nomination of candidates.
All this amid rising tensions that threaten the ceasefire agreement negotiated by Russia and Turkey more than a year ago, which opened the door to a new peace and reconciliation process under the auspices of the United Nations.
In their statement today, Germany, the United States, France, Italy and the United Kingdom congratulated Libya’s High Elections Committee on the “technical and logistical preparations” that were finally approved at the international conference in Paris on November 12.
The five countries also warned that they would blame “individuals or entities” inside or outside the country “for obstructing the electoral process, in a message referring to Russian and Turkish influence in Libya.
They added that those who interfere “may be placed on the list of the UN Sanctions Committee, as stipulated in Security Council Resolution 2571.”
So far, multiple attempts to stabilize Libya, a hydrocarbon-rich country and a major route for irregular migration to Europe, have been unsuccessful since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and assassinated in 2011.
In their note, Berlin, Washington, Paris, Rome and London commended the work of the UN Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, in this North African country.
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