The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephanie Williams, delivered her welcoming speech at the official opening of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunis, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Kais Saied.
“We are taking confident steps forward in the multiple paths that the United Nations mission directs, relying on the determination of the Libyans, and we rely firmly on the will of the Libyan people, their right to protect their homeland and its sovereignty, and the wealth of their country,” said Williams.
She added, “In these important moments, I do not forget to thank the members of the Forum attending us today for their dedication. I thank them for their response, cooperation and commitment to actively contribute to reaching consensual solutions to the crisis in their country.”
Williams indicated that the road to this forum was not lined with flowers, and the path to this day was not easy.
On behalf of the United Nations, she thanked the President of Tunisia for the great support and special facilities that the mission and the forum participants received from the various departments in the Presidency of Tunisia and its ministries.
75 male and female participants will participate in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunis.
For his part, Saied said in his speech during the opening ceremony that: “There is no room for tutelage over the Libyan people under any title. It can be achieved if forces from outside do not intervene.”
The Tunisian president added that the meeting of Libyans today aims to achieve peace and stresses that the solution will only be Libyan-Libyan, and that it cannot come out of guns nor from the fire of bullets, but rather by restoring the sovereignty of their country.
He stressed setting dates and a clear plan to reach a solution that ends the Libyan crisis, indicating that the dialogue forum held will be a prelude to the legitimacy stemming from the will of the Libyan people alone.
The Tunisian president emphasized the necessity of setting specific dates for holding elections so that the will of the Libyans would come out of the ballot box, noting that it is useful at this stage to pay attention to the electoral law that will be drawn up.
He addressed to the participants, saying: “I allow you to focus on being united, as there is no room for dividing it … Some talk about the East and the West, but the Libyan people are one.”
“You will find, dear brothers, what a brother finds with his brother in the hour of distress, because we announce that we find in you the blessings of brothers. And what makes you happy, it makes us happy. ” He said.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations – Antonio Guterres delivered a speech in which he emphasized that the opportunity is now available to end the tragic conflict in Libya and forge a new era of peace.
Guterres added that the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Geneva was a fundamental step forward, noting that it is the turn of the participants in the dialogue to shape the future of Libya and that their commitment to this process will contribute to the restoration of Libyan sovereignty.
The UN Secretary-General called on the international community to lend its strong support to the operation sponsored by the mission in Libya.
