Raisedon Zenenga, Assistant UN Secretary-General, and Coordinator of UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced that the latest session of the United Nations-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) concluded in Switzerland, Geneva, Friday without reaching a consensus on the constitutional basis for the upcoming elections, scheduled for December 24, 2021.
In his closing remarks, Zenenga added that it is regrettable the meeting has not succeeded in reaching an agreement.
"Despite all the opportunities, there is still no common ground. The people of Libya will certainly feel let down as they still aspire to exercise their democratic rights in presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 24," he said.
"As we conclude this session, I encourage you to continue to consult among yourselves to pursue a workable compromise and cement what unites you," he added.
Members of the LPDF met Monday in an undisclosed place in Switzerland for a week-long session in a move to clear the way for national elections on Dec. 24 this year.
The talks, held at a hotel about 15 kilometres (9 miles) from Geneva, had been extended into a fifth day on Friday with delegates struggling to agree. They had been expected to establish the constitutional basis for presidential and parliamentary elections by July 1.
But delegates and U.N. officials said they could not agree among themselves on several proposals circulating, prompting organizers to extend the talks originally planned to last four days.
The elections would be a critical step in international efforts to bring stability to Libya, which has been in turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
A U.N.-led peace process brought a ceasefire last summer after fighting between rival factions paused and then a unity government was formed.
The talks in Switzerland follow an international conference in Berlin last week.
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