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Continuity: High Level Meeting on Libyan Constitutional Track - Stephanie Williams 28 June 2022
The following is a translation of comments in Arabic by Ms. Williams to the Leaders of Libya's House of Representatives (HOR) and the High State Council (HSC) in Geneva on Tuesday 29 June 2022:
"Excellencies, Honorable Speaker of the Parliament, President of the High Council of State
Distinguished members of the delegations,
I am very pleased to welcome you here today in this United Nations Headquarters, the Palais des Nations, a historic and highly symbolic United Nations venue, which once hosted the League of Nations, and which I truly hope will be auspicious for this important meeting.
I would like to express my gratitude to our host, the Swiss Government, which has once again demonstrated its friendship to the United Nations and to Libya, welcoming us at very short notice with gracious hospitality.
Your presence here today is an example of responsible leadership and I want to thank you for accepting my invitation to convene soon after the conclusions of the third and final round of talks in Cairo.
The Joint Committee deliberated extensively in carrying out a detailed review of the Draft Constitution, settled disagreements, and achieved consensus on important issues. For the first time, since its adoption by the CDA in 2017, the House of Representatives and the High Council of State engaged in a serious consideration and review of the Constitutional proposal, agreeing on critical elements, safeguards and guardrails which are indispensable for the holding of national elections and therefore to end Libya endless cycle of transitions and interim periods. It is a commendable achievement and it has been a laborious and demanding task.
We are here today to discuss a final and equally important element which has remained outstanding during the talks in Cairo and which requires your leadership to reach consensus, the transitional measures: timelines, modalities and milestones to guarantee a clear path to the holding of national elections as soon possible, through joint work and a consensual outcome.
I have witnessed an unprecedented level of cooperation between the institutions and you have now reached a critical stage of what has been a long and difficult path.
It is now the time to make a final and courageous effort to ensure that this historic compromise takes place, for the sake of Libya, the Libyan people and the credibility of its institutions.
Thank you."
***
Arabic text:
في افتتاح الاجتماع رفيع المستوى – المسار الدستوري الليبي
جنيف -28 حزيران/ يونيو 2022
معالي السيد رئيس مجلس النواب المحترم
معالي السيد رئيس المجلس الأعلى للدولة المحترم
السادة المحترمون أعضاء الوفدين،
إنه من دواعي سروري أن أرحب بكم هنا اليوم في مقر الأمم المتحدة في هذا الصرح التاريخي – قصر الأمم – الذي يحمل دلالة رمزية كبيرة للأمم المتحدة حيث احتضن عصبة الأمم ذات يوم، والذي آمل أن يكون طالعَ خيرٍ لهذا الاجتماع الهام.
وأَودُّ أن أُعربَ عن امتناني للحكومة السويسرية، التي تُؤكد مرة أخرى صداقتها تجاه الأمم المتحدة وتجاه ليبيا باستضافتها السخيّة لنا رغم ضيق الوقت.
إنّ وجودكم اليوم هنا لـدَليلٌ على تَحلِّيكم بالقيادة المسؤولة، وأودُ أن أُعرِبَ عن امتناني لكم على قبولكم دعوتي لهذا الاجتماع بعد وقتٍ قصيرٍ من اختتام الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من المشاورات في القاهرة.
لقد أجرت اللجنة المشتركة مداولات موسّعة ومراجعة مفصّلة لمسودة الدستور وعَكَفت على تسوية الخلافات وتَوَصَّلت إلى تَوافق في الآراء بشأن قضايا هامة. وللمرة الأولى منذُ اعتماد الهيئة التأسيسية لصياغة الدستور لهذه المسودة في عام 2017، انخرط مجلس النواب والمجلس الأعلى للدولة في دراسة ومراجعة جادّة لمشروع الدستور، واتفق المجلسان على عناصر غاية في الأهمية وضمانات ووسائل أمان لا غنى عنها لإجراء انتخابات وطنية، وبالتالي إنهاء دوامة المراحل الانتقالية والفترات المؤقتة التي مرت بها ليبيا. إنه لإنجاز جدير بالثناء، فقد كانت المهمة شاقةً.
نجتمع هنا اليوم لمناقشة أمر أخير وذي أهمية مماثلة ظلَّ عالقاً خلال المشاورات في القاهرة، ويتطلب من رئاستي المجلسين التوصل إلى توافق في الآراء، وهذا الأمر هو التدابير الانتقالية التي تشمل المواعيد والطرائق والمراحل الأساسية لضمان مسارٍ واضح لإجراء الانتخابات الوطنية في أقرب وقت ممكن، وذلك من خلال العمل المشترك والخروج بنتيجة توافقية.
لقد شَهدتُ مستوىً غيرَ مسبوق من التعاون بين المجلسين وقد وصلتم الآن إلى مرحلة حاسمة من طريق طويل وشاق.
حان الوقت الآن لبذل جهدٍ أخير وقراراً شجاعاً لضمان التوصل إلى حلٍ توافقي تاريخي من أجل ليبيا.
شكراً لكم
STORY: Continuity: High Level Meeting on Libyan Constitutional Track - Stephanie Williams 28 June 2022
TRT: 4 mins 08s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 28 June 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Medium shot, Stephanie Williams, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, speaking at UN Geneva.
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