Tripoli hosts international conference on Libyan stabilisation

The Government of National Unity hosts senior foreign officials today to drum up support on transitional issues.

The conference comes two months ahead of planned presidential polls.

Tripoli has said the world body’s Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Libya envoy Jan Kubis will attend.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday he would also be there, and officials from regional powers including Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also expected.

Today’s conference aims to “gather the necessary support, in a transparent way” for the presidential election, said Minister Najla al-Mangoush in a video published by her ministry on Sunday.

Foreign powers have been pushing hard for the election to be held as scheduled, after the date was agreed at UN-led talks last year.

But the process has been beset by sharp disagreements over the legal basis for the vote.

Libya expert Emadeddin Badi said the basis for the polls was “becoming more precarious by the day”.

But, he added, the conference aims to “capitalise on the momentum to see Libya stabilised, because several countries do actually want to see a stable Libya, even if on their own terms.”