The latest round of talks of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) aimed at finalizing the roadmap to scheduled national elections concluded without reaching an agreement in Switzerland on Friday, CGTN Africa.
Raisedon Zenenga, the Assistant UN Secretary-General, and Coordinator of the UN Support Mission in Libya said that it is regrettable the meeting, which was aimed at developing a consensual proposal on the constitutional basis for the presidential and parliamentary elections, has not succeeded in reaching an agreement.
“Despite all the opportunities, there is still no common ground. The people of Libya will certainly feel let down as they still aspire to the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights in presidential and parliamentary elections on December 24,” Zenenga said.
“As we conclude this session, I encourage you to continue to consult among yourselves to pursue a workable compromise and cement what unites you,” he added.
The UN admitted that it was facing difficult splits among the 75-strong body it had set up last year to choose an interim Libyan government and agree to the roadmap to the elections.
The Libyan group members met on Monday in an undisclosed place in Switzerland for a week-long session in a move to clear the way for national elections on December 24 this year.
Warring Libyan factions have stuck to a ceasefire agreement since October last year and have all agreed to a temporary unity government and elections.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and international partners including Russia and Morocco and Libyan, continue to reiterate their support for holding the elections as stipulated in the LPDF Roadmap and for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement that includes the opening of the coastal road, withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces without any delay. Previous deadlines for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya have been ignored.
