Libyans were asked to “seize the opportunity” for national unity after the UN's envoy presented a roadmap to presidential and parliamentary elections under a new constitution.
Ghassan Salame, the UN special representative, unveiled a phased plan to Libyan and international leaders yesterday, that rests on major political players uniting behind a drive to hold elections as soon as next year.
“The action plan was not designed by me but by the Libyans. They want an inclusive process, a way forward which clearly defines stages and objectives,” Mr Salame told the New York meeting. "We are at a juncture now. Either we work together and give Libya its best chance, or work apart and rob Libyans of their chance.”
Under his proposal a drafting committee charged with drawing up a new political system would meet in Tunis next week. This would then establish a national political conference under the auspices of the UN Secretary General that “opens the door to the “self-marginalised”.
By bringing in those groups that boycotted the political process, Mr Salame hopes to straddle the divide between the competing factions in east and west Libya, as well provide a platform for inclusion of powerful figures like Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the Benghazi-based commander of the national army.
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The Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), the 2015 deal that stalled, would remain as the framework for the new push to resolve differences.
The announcement drew support of Fayez Serraj, the head of the UN-backed government of national accord, who urged all sides to sign up before the LPA expires on December 17. “We must not return to year zero,” he said.
Theresa May, the British prime minister, led reaction to the announcement, warning that there must be no competing initiatives or playing for time by the factions that have squabbled ever since the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. “Political agreement should remain the legal framework during this transitional phase,” she said. “Leaders must put their hands together for the sake of peace and stability.”
The key point of the Salame plan requires a collegiate approach in which the existing institutions and the new constitutional assembly works together to form an executive by consensus.
“There is no military solution,” said Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general. “Violence has only dimmed hopes for peace, undermined institutions, damaged Libya’s vast economic potential and exported instability to the region. Looking ahead, it is crucial to fashion a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political solution.”
One political analyst warned that divisions within the groups made the task of the UN envoy even more difficult. “We have to admit that Libya has reached a very advanced level of political deadlock that requires a solution and not more escalation,” said Faraj Dardour, a Tripoli political analyst. “Even elections need an agreement to support their results.”
A second challenge to Mr Salame is how to bring armed groups under the umbrella of the national army. "The Libyan national army will have an initiative to be unified and the local reconciliation efforts must be intensified to reach the whole country."
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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- 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
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EShaffra%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDIFC%20Innovation%20Hub%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Emetaverse-as-a-Service%20(MaaS)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ecurrently%20closing%20%241.5%20million%20seed%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20different%20PCs%20and%20angel%20investors%20from%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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UAE Premiership – final standings
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The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
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Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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