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In his briefing before the Security Council and with the election date approaching, Jan Kubis calls on Libyans to unite efforts to ensure comprehensive, free and fair elections.

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Tripoli, September 11, 2021 (LANA) - The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya called on the Libyan actors to unite their forces and ensure the holding of inclusive, free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections.

During his briefing to the Security Council, via video technology, Jan Kubis, on Friday evening, stressed that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya will continue to support efforts that lead to achieving unity and stability in Libya.

  The UN envoy and head of UNSMIL explained that holding elections in Libya, "even in a less than ideal situation, with all the negatives, challenges and risks, is much more desirable than no elections, which will only reinforce division, instability and conflict."

He said, "The House of Representatives is in the process of finalizing the electoral law for parliamentary elections, noting that the Speaker of Parliament, Aqila Saleh, informed him that the presidential election law has already been approved."

  In his speech before the Security Council, the envoy of the Secretary-General added, "International and domestic monitoring of the electoral process is of paramount importance, in order to help ensure the integrity and credibility of the electoral process and the acceptance of its results."

Kubis urged all member states and regional organizations to send monitoring teams, in coordination with the Libyan authorities and institutions, especially the High National Elections Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the time comes.

  Jan Kubis said that holding elections, now, is not just a moral or political obligation, but rather a political and security necessity that ensures the continuation of the positive developments that have been achieved in Libya since October 2020, stressing the need for the Libyan people to have the opportunity to express their will and freely elect their representatives, and give them a stable popular legitimacy.

 The UN envoy welcomed the progress made by the High National Elections Commission so far in preparing for the upcoming national elections.

  In his speech, Kubis also welcomed the tireless efforts made by the Joint Military Committee (5 + 5), which resulted in the reopening of the coastal road linking the east and west of the country, with the support of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.

  As for the presence of mercenaries on Libyan soil, Kubis condemned the continued presence of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces, considering it a source of grave concern to Libya and the international community, including the countries of the region, especially Libya's neighbors.

  Regarding national reconciliation, Kubis described the recent releases of a number of prisoners, including "Al-Saadi Gaddafi" and a number of former regime officials, as a positive development that will contribute to efforts aimed at achieving national reconciliation.

=Lana=