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Tripoli, 20 February 2014:
The United Nations Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has congratulated the Libyan people and the High National Elections . . .[restrict]Commission (HNEC) on today’s elections for the Constitutional Drafting Committee.
It called upon all Libyans to contribute positively to the democratic process which, it said, paved the way towards forming the foundations of a modern Libyan State – a state of institutions based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.
“The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) reaffirms its clear stand of rejecting the threat to use force in the political process, which is contrary to the basic democratic principles,” said the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Tarek Mitri. “UNSMIL also reiterates its firm stand of supporting the legitimacy of democratically-elected institutions and their role in ensuring the transfer of power to an elected body.”
UNSMIL valued the decision by the General National Congress (GNC) to call for early elections, Mitri said, adding that it also commended the efforts made in agreeing the details and mechanisms for holding the elections.
It called upon all Libyans to exert the utmost efforts to deal positively with these endeavours, he said, and to give priority to national interests in order to maintain the democratic path and the political process, which it described as being “in a critical state.” UNSMIL was communicating with all sides to help efforts to reach an agreement that ensured the continuation of the democratic path and prevent the country from sliding into chaos and violence, Mitri added.
“The Mission is fully aware of the importance of achieving progress on the political path without delay or haste,” he said. “It continues to exert efforts, at the request of the Libyans, without imposing unrealistic dates or time limits on itself or on others.”
UNSMIL remained committed to its principles that were based on the absolute respect for Libya’s sovereignty, its legitimate institutions, its unity, and its stability, Mitri added. [/restrict]
