By Ahmed Abbas
UN Special Envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon said in a press conference today that talks to form a unity government in Libya will continue despite Tuesday’s missed deadline.
“[I am here] today to insist that the process goes on; [there is] no chance for groups or personalities to hijack the process,” said Leon.
Leon added that the expired peace plan will not change. “If we continue to make changes this will be an endless exercise.”
Furthermore, Leon said the UN may impose sanctions on individuals blocking the plan. Those sanctions could vary from a “travel ban to freezing bank accounts”.
He added that the plan in Libya has “unprecedented” support from the international community. However, he stressed that this is a Libyan-owned process and not “the international community nor the UN bringing solutions for the Libyans”.
Earlier this month, the UN envoy had announced a national unity government in Libya, but the internationally-recognised parliament in Tobruk refused it, saying the UN refused to exclude the amendments added by the Islamist authorities in Tripoli without its consent.
