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By Umar Khan.
Tripoli, 31 August 2013:
Muhammed Harari, the head of the National . . .[restrict]Dialogue initiative and of the Office of Consultants at Congress, says that his main objective is to make national dialogue “actually inclusive”. It would be holding regular workshops, seminars and meetings with different components of the society to discuss and resolve issues peacefully.
Harari told the Libya Herald that he presented the idea of national dialogue and the Office of Consultants two months ago to the President of Congress, Nuri Abu Sahmain. “For all the challenges Libya is facing today we need national dialogue to talk about the issues and solve them as this will protect the unity of the country,” Harari said. “The second idea I gave him (Abu Sahmain) was to have an Office of Consultants to guide Congress on all important decisions and provide expert opinions when needed.”
The formation of both the consultants’ office and the National Dialogue was occurred when when Congress Resolution No. 126 was on issued on July 28. Both initiatives come directly under the President of Congress. The dialogue initiative is not the same as announced by the Zeidan and no contact has been established between PM and Harari over the matter.
Talking about the National Dialogue, Harari said that its results would be seen at all levels, including the Committee of 60 (the Constitutional Commission), once elected and tasked with the drafting of new constitution.
“To move forward, you need to have a dialogue and this is what we are planning to do. To have an honest and open dialogue that will protect the unity of our country.” He also said that the National Dialogue would bring supporters of the Qaddafi regime to the table. “Dialogue is very important for the Transitional Justice Law as well as reconciliation. We all have to sit together and we will also cordially invite the loyalists of former regime – of course, the ones that don’t carry weapons.”
He also stressed on the need of support from international organisations to successfully conduct dialogue with all parties. He said, “I met with Tarek Mitri (the head of UNSMIL) at the end of July to explain the initiative to him. It’s a very important and big initiative and we need help from the international organisations and experts to help complete it successfully.”
Harari also said that he would be relying on the active participation and support of people to make the National Dialogue a success. “It is a big and difficult task and cannot be done with the help of civil society organisations and media alone. It will need all sections of society to come together and play their part. We are organising a workshop very soon on the same idea that how can media help with overcoming problems and promote dialogue.”
Asked about the Office of Consultants, Harari said the idea was to have an office that would provide expert opinion to Congress on all issues. “I suggested that instead of having numerous advisors to Congress it would be better to have an office of consultants. No advisor can master all fields but it can be tackled if you have an office with consultants in all different fields.”
Harari said that they now advise GNC on all matters when they asked. “Whenever they need advice on any issue, be it security, construction, the economy, military, international relations or anything, we immediately get expert opinion on the matter and forward it to Congress.”
Umar Khan can be found at twitter.com/umarnkhan [/restrict]
