U.S. and French embassies welcome LPDF Advisory Committee agreement, warn obstructers

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 17 January 2021:

The U.S and French embassies welcomed the announcement by UNSMIL that the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum’s (LPDF) Advisory Committee had agreed on a mechanism for the selection of Libya’s new temporary unified government. The mechanism will be put forward to the whole 75-member LPDF to vote on tomorrow.

Other embassies issued similar, but milder statements.

In its statement yesterday, the U.S Embassy said ‘‘The United States welcomes the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Advisory Committee’s progress toward the selection of a new interim executive authority.  Their work reflects the clear demands of the Libyan people that it is time to move past the conflict and corruption facilitated by the status quo.

We call on all parties to work with urgency and in good faith through the LPDF to establish a new unified government, whose mandate will be to implement national elections on December 24 of this year, provide public services, and transparently manage and distribute Libya’s wealth to the benefit of all citizens.

The Libyan people and the international community should use all available tools to prevent any attempts to impede this political transition.  We commend the Acting UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Stephanie Williams, for her extraordinary leadership and commitment to helping Libya achieve a more secure and prosperous future’’.

Ready to take measures against LPDF obstructers. No to status quo’

Referring to UNSMIL’s announcement that the Advisory Committee had arrived at a result, the French embassy said yesterday ‘‘France congratulates the LPDF Advisory Committee and UNSMIL for these positive results.

France calls on all the LPDF to allow the election of a new unified executive to lead Libya to elections on 24 December.

Ready to take measures against those who obstruct the LPDF. No to status quo’’.