NTC officials have finalised the law that will be used to regulate June’s election of the National Assembly, which will then . . .[restrict]draft the new Libyan constitution.
United Nations chief in Libya , Ian Martin said yesterday “This is an important step in Libya’s transition to democracy.”
Martin, who is both the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special representative in the country and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) made a point of emphasising that the new law had been written by Libyans, with the UN mission providing technical help when it was requested. His mission, he said, would be just as willing to assist the newly-created Higher National Electoral Commission, which will organise and run the mid-summer election.
Martin added: “The first free election for over four decades will provide an opportunity for Libyans to exercise their democratic rights to participate in a process which will shape the future of their country.
“UNSMIL remains committed, as mandated by the UN Security Council, to assist and support Libyan national efforts to undertake political dialogue, promote national reconciliation and embark upon the electoral process.”
Martin, on a visit to Sirte to see for himself the damage caused to the city in the final days of fighting said: ” “Amid this destruction, I was deeply impressed by the efforts of the people who have already done much to bring life back to the city, with as yet little support.”
He pledged that UN staff would be going to Sirte in the coming days to see how the organisation could assist in the reconstruction and recovery effort.
Local council members had explained that their biggest concerns, besides rebuilding, included education, health care and mine clearance. They were also struggling to establish the fate of those still missing since the fighting and concerned about the problems facing internally displaced persons. [/restrict]
