Security Council calls on Libyans to ensure peaceful holding of parliamentary polls
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 23 June 2014 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Security Council calls on Libyans to ensure peaceful holding of parliamentary polls, 23 June 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53a95dba4.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The United Nations Security Council today called on all parties in Libya to ensure the free and fair holding of the parliamentary elections scheduled for 25 June, stressing that the polls are an important step in the country's democratic transition.
In a statement issued to the press, the members of the Council emphasized that the elections are also an opportunity for the Libyan people to select a transitional government that meets their legitimate aspirations.
"They called on all parties in Libya to ensure that elections take place peacefully across the whole country and that all Libyans are able to exercise their rights to participate in these elections," said the 15-member body.
Libya, which has been undergoing a democratic transition since the toppling in 2011 of former leader Muammar al-Qadhafi, has recently witnessed political tensions as well as major security developments, particularly in the eastern part of the country.
It is against this backdrop that the North African nation is preparing, with technical support from the UN, for the election of the 200-member Council of Representatives that will succeed the General National Congress.
Council members said they remain "gravely concerned" by political divisions and the worsening security situation, which must be resolved through a revitalized political process. They called on all political forces in Libya who reject terror and violence to engage in dialogue to forge consensus on the next steps and priorities of the democratic transition.
They also underlined the importance of the work of the Constitution Drafting Committee, and reaffirmed their support for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and its efforts to facilitate a meaningful Libyan-led national dialogue.
