UNSMIL said Wednesday it started facilitating a 3-day direct meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum's (LPDF) Legal Committee from 7 to 9 April in Tunisia to finalize discussions on a constitutional basis which will pave the way for national elections on December 24, 2021.

The Head of the UNSMIL, Jan Kubis, said the Legal Committee's proposals that will be formulated in the coming days are of critical importance for the implementation of the objectives of the LPDF Roadmap.

In his remarks to the Legal Committee meeting, Kubis said setting the date for national elections was a critical achievement of the LPDF, urging the committee to take another step towards the realization of this important goal, that will enable the Libyan people after many years of hiatus, divisions, and conflict to directly elect the new top institutions of the state through democratic, inclusive, and representative elections.

"This is what they want, what they deserve. Also, the international community fully supports the holding of the elections on 24 December 2021." Kubis explained.

He added that the Legal Committee's role has been clearly defined in the Roadmap, which includes: making proposals and suggesting ideas that would enable clarity on the constitutional basis and electoral framework for the holding of national elections on the agreed date.

"Time is of the essence. I am mindful of the statement made by the Chairperson of the HNEC, whereby a constitutional and electoral framework for elections has to be ready by early July for national elections to take place on 24 December. I strongly encourage you to take this important element into consideration." Kubis remarked.

He encouraged the committee to maintain focus on developing concrete and workable proposals that will enable the holding of elections on time, calling on the committee members "to raise above divisions, to remain guided by the sense of patriotism, responsibility and compromise that inspired your work and successes throughout the LPDF process up until now."