The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has affirmed United States’ support for a sovereign, stable, unified, and secure Libya free from foreign interference, emphasizing Washington's support for Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections on December 24.

Blinken urged Libya’s leaders to take the steps necessary to ensure free and fair elections as outlined by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum roadmap, including the need for agreement on a constitutional and legal framework.

Secretary Blinken underscored US support for full implementation of the Libyan October 2020 ceasefire, including the removal of all foreign forces and mercenaries as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2570.

He also stressed US support for renewal of the UN Human Rights Council Independent Fact Finding Mission on Libya’s work to document human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, as well as the need for unhindered access for the Mission.

The Secretary of State's remarks came as he participated in a ministerial on Libya on the margins of the UN General Assembly hosted by the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, France, Germany, and Italy in the presence of foreign ministers of participants in the Berlin Process as well as Libya’s regional neighbors and UN representatives.