TRIPOLI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A UN representative for Libya has said that the proposed meeting of a smaller group of key Libyan stakeholders is intended to help resolve obstacles hindering the electoral process, but not to replace the structured dialogue, local media reported Monday.
In remarks released Monday evening by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Hanna Tetteh, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Libya, warned that the country is facing major challenges against progress toward holding elections.
She noted that the UN mission's proposed roadmap seeks to end political division, unify state institutions, and restore their legitimacy, paving the way for national elections that would lead to long-term stability.
Tetteh, in her briefing in August last year, unveiled a roadmap that would lead to general elections and unified state institutions in Libya.
The roadmap is built around three core pillars: the implementation of a technically sound and politically viable electoral framework aimed at holding presidential and legislative elections, unifying institutions through a new unified government, and a Structured Dialogue that enables broad participation of Libyans to address critical issues.
Eight months after the announcement of the roadmap, both the House of Representatives and the High Council of State have failed to complete its first two phases, despite ongoing efforts, prompting the need to explore alternative approaches to advance the political process, she said.
In this context, she revealed a two-step approach beginning with a mini-meeting to address the obstacles affecting the initial phases, followed, if necessary, by a broader meeting based on existing political agreements.
She stressed that the meeting will not replace the structured dialogue, but will serve as a complementary mechanism to address specific issues, primarily the electoral framework and the formation of the board of the High National Elections Commission.
Earlier this month, reports said that a "4+4 mini-Committee" was proposed as part of efforts to break the prolonged political deadlock in the North African country.
The committee is expected to consist of eight members representing the Tobruk-based General Command of the Libyan National Army and the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, in a bid to narrow differences over electoral laws and the constitutional basis.
The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for Wednesday in Rome under UN auspices, local media reported, citing a source within UNSMIL. ■