U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, discussed on Saturday political tensions in the North African country with the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Aqila Saleh, the new Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, and the outgoing Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.
Ambassador Norland spoke with Speaker Aqila Saleh today about how to deescalate tensions, avoid violence, and restore momentum to parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible, according to US Embassy in Libya.
The Ambassador welcomed the Speaker’s commitment to engage with UN efforts to produce rapid agreement on a constitutional basis and his emphasis on High National Elections Commission’s decisive role. They agreed that Libya cannot return to the turmoil of the past, the Embassy tweeted.
Ambassador Norland said: “In the context of ongoing political tensions in Libya, I have been in touch with PM Dabaiba and PM-Designate Bashagha and am confident both leaders want to avoid escalating violence.”
“I urged them to consider ways in which to manage Libya’s affairs while efforts are underway, with UN facilitation, to rapidly restore momentum toward parliamentary and presidential elections,” he pointed out.
“I was encouraged to hear their mutual commitment to holding elections as soon as possible. These are decisions only Libyans can make, but they have our full support in reaching peaceful solutions,” the ambassador added.