UN delegate to Libya says only elections can end legitimacy issues

UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame. (UNSMIL)
The UN  delegate to Libya Ghassan Salame has confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in Cairo that the institutions’ legitimacy problem still exists in Libya and this issue can only be resolved through general elections.

Salame expressed Saturday to the paper his rejection of the dominance of any militia over Tripoli, stressing that the UN mission works on holding the elections soon.

Salame also said that certain local Libyan factors led to the delay in elections and not the Italian-French dispute over this subject.

“I hope that a security and economic plan would be able to prepare the right conditions in the country for some kind of stability that leads to a permanent political solution. Security plan focuses on fostering the ceasefire and rejecting the power solution, noting that the security arrangement committee in the capital has been changed and a strong committee has been set up.” The Head of UNSMIL added.

Salame indicated that a group of economic reforms was adopted, leading to a remarkable drop in the commodities’ prices in Libya and a progress in the exchange rate of the dinar against the dollar.

“Regarding foreign assistance, the Security Council is clear in this aspect – it will not deploy the blue helmets in Libya because the mission is entrusted with political work and not peace-keeping,” explained Salame, adding that the mission is sponsoring a ceasefire but has no forces to intervene militarily.”

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