2017 must be a year of decisions for Libya: UN

new york — The UN envoy for Libya said on Wednesday that 2017 must be “a year of decisions” for the politically fractured North African nation — first and foremost to get parliament’s approval of the national unity government and form a strong army and national police force.

Martin Kobler told the UN Security Council that decisions also have to be made on how best to use revenue from Libya’s oil production as well as gas exports to end the country’s “dire humanitarian situation” and help all Libyans.

Since 2014, Libya has been split between rival governments and parliaments based in the western and eastern regions, each backed by different militias and tribes. A UN-brokered deal in December 2015 to create a unity government has failed because the UN-backed government now in the capital, Tripoli, has been unable to win the

decisions have to be made on how best to use revenue from oil production and gas exports to end Libya’s dire humanitarian situation Martin Kobler, UN envoy for Libya

endorsement of Libya’s internationally recognised parliament in Tobruk, which is a prerequisite to assume power.

Kobler said that limited amendments to the 2015 deal should be agreed to in an orderly process, but that they should be “done fast” to enable parliament to endorse the Government of National Accord.

Under the deal, a Presidency Council and power-sharing government was to heal Libya’s rift and lead the country to new elections. —