By Saber Ayyub.
Tripoli, 1 May 2016:
Boycotting member of the Presidency Council (PC) Omar Aswad has called the president of the House . . .[restrict]of Representatives (HoR) Ageela Saleh to organise for a “transparent” session in Tobruk as soon as possible to debate the issue of the Government of National Accord (GNA). This had to be done, he said, to prevent the political situation from deteriorating further.
In a letter dated 30 April in which he referred to himself as a PC member – indicating that he has not resigned from the council – Aswad also called on PC head Faiez Serraj and other PC members to suspend their current activities (these include receiving foreign visits and taking over ministries) because they had not yet been approved by the HoR which was part of the agreement. These were “provocative actions” he said. He warned them to not make any promises, or sign on any international agreements.
Aswad also warned UNSMIL against trying to rush the situation. This could cause the political process in the country to collapse altogether.
He strongly attacked the newly formed State Council saying that it was illegal because, under the Libya Political Agreement (LPA), it was to be formed ten days after the amendment of the 2011 Constitutional Declaration by the HoR. This had no happened so far.
In addition, Aswad criticised Abdulrahman Al-Tawil, the head of the Temporary Security Committee set up by the PC, for hiring militias to protect the Council and its members.
He also had a dig at the Dialogue Committee, saying they had to honest and avoid partisan positions.
Aswad’s warning followed the arrival in Ghadames last week of a group of HoR members to prepare for a session in which they and other pro-GNA colleagues are expected to endorse both the GNA and the LPA. The meeting is expected to take place on Wednesday.
UN Special envoy Martin Kobler had suggested there be an HoR session away from Tobruk to endorse the GNA. Similarly, nine days ago, some hundred members issued a statement saying that they approved the unity government after HoR opponents of the GNA had again prevented a session from taking place.
There are reports, however, that some of them are now losing confidence in the GNA, and are having second thoughts about supporting it.
It is feared that if the Ghadames meeting does take place, it will irrevocably split the HoR. [/restrict]
