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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Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
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Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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Director: Rajkumar Hirani
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- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
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- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
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All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi’s Arabic Language Centre will mark International Women’s Day at the Bologna Children's Book Fair with the Abu Dhabi Translation Conference. Prolific Emirati author Noora Al Shammari, who has written eight books that feature in the Ministry of Education's curriculum, will appear in a session on Wednesday to discuss the challenges women face in getting their works translated.