Unifying the state cannot withstand continued obstruction
LIBYA – Lt Gen Saddam Haftar rejected the continuation of disputes, and attempts to obstruct the political process and undermine efforts to unify state institutions, stressing the need to turn political understandings into actionable steps at a time when Libyan citizens face growing crises in their livelihoods and services.
In a Facebook post, Lt Gen Saddam Haftar said his position on the next phase was to “move with full seriousness towards ending the division, supporting actionable understandings, and working with the various parties to overcome the obstacles in their way,” stressing: “We will not accept that the country’s future remains hostage to continued disputes and attempts to obstruct the political process and undermine efforts to unify state institutions.”
He added that national responsibility required translating political efforts into real results that restore the state’s unity and its ability to fulfil its duties towards all Libyans, rather than continued obstruction amid the challenges facing the country.
Meeting with Tetteh after the mission’s mandate renewal
Lt Gen Saddam Haftar said the remarks followed the Security Council’s decision to renew the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and his meeting in Benghazi with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Hanna Tetteh, in which the two sides discussed developments in the political process and opportunities to achieve progress that ends years of division and opens the way to a unified authority and long-awaited elections.
Unifying the executive authority and sovereign institutions
He said unifying the authorities and state institutions had been a main focus of the talks, as the basis for ending the division and restoring the country’s unity, covering political, military, security and judicial institutions while preserving the independence of the authorities and their competencies in accordance with the Constitutional Declaration.
He stressed that unifying the executive authority came at the forefront of these requirements as a necessary step to restore the state’s ability to manage its affairs and address economic and service crises, and to prepare the conditions for presidential and parliamentary elections, alongside supporting the stability of financial and economic institutions.
Road map, mini-committee and implementation timetable
Lt Gen Saddam Haftar noted that the meeting covered developments in the road map and the work of the mini-committee, and ways to build on the understandings reached and overcome the obstacles to implementing them, through clear steps and a set timetable that ensures the political process continues and is not left hostage to disputes and obstruction.
Supporting UN efforts and engaging with the US initiative
He affirmed continued support for the United Nations mission’s efforts, in parallel with serious engagement in the US initiative, stressing the importance of integrating national and international efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement that ends the division, unifies state institutions and opens the way to national milestones.
