Washington,- The Special Envoy, the United States Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, urged to “compromise as Libya attempts to move to the final stages of interim government to pave the way for elections.”
This came in a statement issued by the US embassy in Libya, Thursday evening, regarding Norland’s visit to the capital, Tripoli, and his meeting with Dbaiba and the President of the Presidential Council, Muhammad Al-Mnifi, and his meeting with the heads of representatives of the economic working group emanating from the International Follow-up Committee on the Berlin Process.
The US embassy said that Norland’s visit to Tripoli was “to hold meetings with a focus on maintaining calm and returning to the path toward elections.” Noting that he “co-hosted the meeting of the economic working group of the Berlin process in order to promote progress in the economic track of Libya, considering that it is an effort that can address economic differences and help stabilize the political situation.”
The embassy explained that Norland summarized the visit by noting that “the United States continues to support the vast majority of Libyans who are waiting for elections and demanding a chance to vote for the future of their country.” We have also focused on our support for continued progress on the economic track as an essential element to ensure stability and shared prosperity – and to end Libya’s long and difficult transition.”
The US embassy said that Norland “confirmed the United States’ support for a Libyan-led process, facilitated by the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephanie Williams, that leads to free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.”
“Ambassador Norland encouraged Prime Minister Dbaiba to engage with Prime Minister Bash-Agha, who has been appointed by the House of Representatives, in order to avoid escalation of tensions that might lead to violence. He also called for the reopening of Libyan airspace to all domestic flights,” according to the embassy statement.
Norland also met in Tripoli with the co-chairs representing the economic working group of the International Follow-up Committee of the Berlin Process, which includes: United Nations Coordinator Risidon Zeninga, European Union Ambassador to Libya Jose Sabadell, Chargé d’Affairs of Egypt Ambassador Tamer Mustafa, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Al-Siddiq Al-Kabeer and a representative of the Deputy Governor, Ali Al-Hibri.
The US embassy indicated that Norland and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury Eric Mayer (who attended via virtual participation) represented the United States. It said that Norland indicated during the meeting that “the management of Libyan oil revenues must be built on the pillar of transparency and the independence of sovereign institutions in order to keep them away from political quarrels.”
According to the US embassy, Norland also indicated that Libya can benefit from the current high oil prices and help calm global energy markets, if the National Oil Corporation obtains the necessary resources to boost production, “in the context of current global events, especially the unjust Russian invasion. to Ukraine, as he put it.
Source: Libyan News Agency