UN Adviser Hails Consensus by Libyan Joint Committee during Cairo Talks

On Saturday, the United Nations (UN) secretary general's special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said that the Joint Committee between the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State on Constitutional Track in Cairo reached "an initial consensus" on 137 articles of a draft constitution.

"I am particularly pleased that you were able to agree on Chapter 2 on the rights and freedoms, as well as on the Chapters on legislative and judicial authority," Williams said in a statement.

She noted that it is important to keep in mind that the Libyan people are looking to this Committee with high hopes and expectations that your work will conclude and lead to a full agreement to enable the holding of national, comprehensive, and inclusive elections as soon as possible.

The UN adviser stressed that these elections will fulfill the aspirations of over 7 million of Libyans, who have the internationally recognized fundamental right to go to the ballot box and to elect those who represent them in presidential and legislative elections.

In March, Williams invited the parliament and High State Council to each nominate six members for a joint committee on Libya's constitutional arrangements.

Libya's political process fell apart in December with the collapse of a scheduled election, with major factions and political bodies pushing opposing plans for the path ahead and backing rival governments.