U.S. Ambassador in exclusive interview with Libyan News Agency: political process in Libya is progressing and Libyans must decide on the electoral process and set its conditions.

  Tripoli, 18 November 2021 (Lana) The Libyan News Agency on Wednesday conducted an exclusive interview with the Ambassador of the United States of America and Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland during which he talked about the elections scheduled for December 24, the obstacles it faces, and the assistance that the United States can provide to Libyans to achieve this entitlement and get the country out of the crisis it is going through.

Ambassador Norland said in the interview that the political process in Libya is progressing, and that the next phase is the elections that Libyans have to decide and set their conditions.

The U.S. ambassador said his country's position is to work to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, in a way that pushes it forward, and that there is a clear position on those who provoke violence or prevent people from voting that they will pay the price, stressing that the integrity of the electoral process will ensure that people there will be good results for Libya.

Norland said they understood concerns about some presidential candidates and the controversy surrounding them, stressing that his country supports holding elections without any exclusion.

  "We are aware of disinformation and defamation efforts to use the information space, to make the electoral environment more difficult and exploit the electoral environment," he said, adding that his country will support efforts to bring in international observers, so that they can monitor the electoral process.

"Not long ago, Tripoli was bombedared, there were real conflicts, and we are now in the process of having a political process moving forward, and the next phase is the elections," Norland said, adding that it was "my third year as U.S. ambassador to Libya, and no one thought in the last two years that we would get to a point where we could talk, not about when and whether but how we're going to hold elections, but how we're going to run these elections."

  The U.S. ambassador told Lana that he spoke with the president of the High National Election Commission Imad Al-Sayeh on the issue of technical preparation for the elections, which is witnessing steady and professional progress, and that he has held what looks like a seminar for candidates organized by a non-governmental organization for the Libya desk, where they talked about their opinions and priorities on the electoral process.

Norland continued by saying that he is looked forward to the opportunity to talk to the candidates and listen to their opinions so that Libyans can listen to their opinions and priorities to serve Libya, and how they will lead the country in the right direction, and build a better future for all Libyans, pointing out that he listened to some smart candidates, including a woman, the first female candidate for the post of head of state, and that these candidates pledged that they will support the integrity of the electoral process and will respect its results, stressing that regardless of winners and losers, there is an agreement that the interests of Libya and the Libyans must come first, considering that all indications are that this process can move forward.

 On securing the electoral process, Norland said one of the main tasks of the Government of National Unity is to pave the way for successful elections, and that the government and the Interior Ministry have a great responsibility to secure the elections, so when we hear polling stations have been closed we expect the government to do something about it.

The U.S. Ambassador stressed the important role of the Government of National Unity and the Ministry of Interior in securing elections and enabling voters to reach the polling stations and the integrity of the elections, pointing out that international observers will play a very important role in this matter. There are indications that at least 2,000 to 3,000 Libyan observers will have an important role, in addition to observers from the European Union, the African Union and the Carter Center in The United States, all of whom have expressed their interest to send election observers to Libya. He explained that an important aspect is the presence of international observers before the beginning of the elections, in addition to monitoring the information space and the actions of some to intimidate people and create confusion, and send messages that various steps will lead to a crisis, and there are people who are determined to exploit the information space.

Ambassador Norland underscored importance of focusing on the information space, calling on Libyan citizens when watching what is posted on social media to stop, take a deep breath and do some analyses, after which they will realize that they are being manipulated to exploit them to maintain instability in Libya, stressing that the interests of the United States and the international community is in seeing Libya successful and stable.

  The U.S. ambassador expressed his country's interest in cyber- securing efforts for the elections, because there are those who try to exploit the information space, and it is the duty of Libyan citizens to take responsibility in processing the information they receive, and not to allow them to be manipulated.

The US ambassador noted during the interview that what he heard today from a number of candidates is beautiful because they have taken courageous steps by entering the political process, and the challenges that will accompany them. He said that these candidates had articulate views on the electoral process, and we have a sense that the next time we meet with them and others, we will be able to hear encouraging views on Libya and its future and priorities for the economy and foreign policy.

 The U.S. Ambassador concluded his meeting with Lana by emphasizing that the political process currently taking place in Libya and the preparations for the elections are not related to the international community or diplomats, but to the Libyan people, who will have the opportunity to express their free will, expressing the hope that the electoral process will be conducted and Libyans will listen to all candidates, to make their decisions by electing those who want, and to exclude whom they do not want, and not to allow themselves to be exploited by those who try to sabotage the process.

=Lana=