2024-04-18 19:50:09
The UN envoy to Libya, Abdullah Batili, announced in a press conference from the United Nations headquarters in New York his official resignation from his position as special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Libya.
In his last briefing to the Security Council on the eve of his resignation, Batelli said that Khalifa Haftar is demanding that Osama Hammad be invited to join the mission or withdraw Dabaiba’s invitation in exchange for not inviting the former, describing the demand to add Hammad as increasing the division.
Batelli added that Aguila Saleh continues to form a parallel government, adding that his attempt to resolve the crisis found no response other than opposition and indifference to the interests of the Libyan people, as he put it.
Batelli said: I saw unexpected requests from the active parties in Libya for my initiative to resolve the crisis, accusing the Libyan parties of having rigid positions that impede reaching a solution to the crisis.
Regarding the economic crisis file, Batelli said that it had deepened, with the Central Bank issuing warnings of a lack of liquidity and issuing a tax on selling cash prices.
He added that the tax adopted by Aguila Saleh fueled citizens’ anger due to the rise in prices, explaining that the imposition of the dollar tax was accompanied by the decline in the value of the Libyan dinar in the parallel market, which raised citizens’ concerns, according to him.
Militarily, Batelli said: The military movements carried out by Haftar’s forces near Sirte pose a threat to the ceasefire agreement, stressing that the withdrawal of foreign soldiers and mercenaries has stopped.
Batelli said that the presence of armed groups and heavy weapons in the capital poses a threat to the safety of civilians.
Meanwhile, Batelli announced the postponement of the National Reconciliation Conference scheduled to be held in Sirte until further notice due to “the reason for the differences.”
Batelli expressed his regret at what he described as “seeing those in power take precedence over their personal interests over the interest of the country.”
The envoy said that the selfishness of the current leaders comes at the expense of the Libyans and must stop immediately, he said.
Batelli called on the Security Council to force the Libyan and regional parties to respond to the mission’s call for political dialogue.
The UN envoy said that a wide spectrum of Libyans hope to change the current political reality, expressing the mission’s concern about “the increase in kidnappings and arbitrary arrests that undermine freedoms in the three regions of Libya.”
For his part, the United States representative said before the Security Council that he was concerned about Wagner’s presence in Libya, adding that they were closely following the crises in the region and weapons smuggling, calling for the withdrawal of all mercenaries and fighters.
On the other hand, the Russian delegate said that there is an American company affiliated with the Ministry of Defense that is training armed groups in Libya amid the absence of Libyan government control over it.
Meanwhile, Libya’s representative to the United Nations attacked the Security Council, saying: You are still unable to implement your decisions regarding the ceasefire in Gaza.
Al-Sunni asked: Will the Zionist entity be placed under Chapter Seven for its violations during its war on Gaza and its non-compliance with the recent Council decision?
Al-Sunni said: The eyes of some of those who raise slogans of humanity and justice are blinded by what is happening in Gaza, and they are coming today to criticize the conditions in Libya.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, announced his welcome to Batelli’s briefing before the Security Council, stressing the necessity of holding elections.
Al-Dabaiba said in a post on his Facebook account: I recall our firm position of the necessity of reaching a fair electoral process based on a fair constitutional basis that ensures everyone’s participation.
Source: Security Council + Libya Al-Ahrar
2024-04-18 19:50:09