By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 20 November 2015:
New UNSMIL chief Martin Kobler is expected in Tobruk tomorrow to have his first meeting . . .[restrict]with the House of Representatives.
He is likely to be seeking to rebuild trust in UNSMIL itself as much as in the Dialogue process, in the wake of the discovery of his predecessor, Bernardino Leon’s close relations with the UAE.
The HoR has yet to vote on the final Leon draft of the National Accord, nor yet on the composition of the new Presidential Council. The crucial debate has been repeatedly delayed by the absence of parliament’s president, Ageela Salah Gwaidar who has found himself involved in a series of foreign trips.
The House remains divided. There are those, including Benghazi politician Abubakr Buera, who fear that a rejection of the deal could give impetus to eastern federalists. They therefore would prefer to avoid a vote at this time.
However for Kobler to revive the stalled accord, he needs the support of HoR which was elected in June 2014, despite claims in some quarters that its mandate ran out last month. In September the House voted to extend its life by another year.
It is not known if Kobler will be travelling to Tobruk with UNSMIL’s new security adviser , Italian Lieutenant-General Paolo Serra. [/restrict]
