EU, Arab League hail selection of Libyan interim gov’t - AA

The EU and Arab League on Sunday welcomed the election of Libya's new temporary leadership to govern the country until elections in December.

In a declaration on behalf of the EU, Josep Borrell asserted that the bloc welcomed the agreement on the transitional unified executive authority that saw the election of an interim presidential council and prime minister.

EU foreign policy chief Borrel also underlined that this was an important milestone in the Berlin Process for a political resolution to the conflict in the North African country and on the way towards national elections due Dec. 24, 2021.

"We are ready to work with the new President of the Presidency Council, Mohammad Younes Menfi, and the new Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, and stress the need for the swift formation of a new, inclusive government that will work for national reconciliation and unification of the country.

"We encourage the House of Representatives to vote on the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) outcomes according to the timeline agreed in the Road Map adopted by the LPDF in Tunis in November 2020," the statement said.

It said that since the Berlin Conference, Libya had made significant progress towards securing lasting peace and stability, including through the reopening of its energy sector, the cease-fire agreement of Oct. 23 between the rival sides in the country, the roadmap for the upcoming elections and selection of a transitional unified executive authority.

The bloc also urged all relevant Libyan stakeholders and members of the international community to support the temporary authority in the interest of stabilizing the country and national reconciliation after years of turmoil since the deposition of former ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

"In this regard, the EU recalls its instrument of sanctions against possible spoilers," it said...