Talks To Decide Libya's Future Returns To The United Nations In Geneva

During a break in the talks, the UN chief negotiator and head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino Leon today (4 Sept) told reporters that "we are making progress and my first comment is that we are now, after the meetings we had yesterday and today in Geneva, in a better position than where we started. We have clarified a number of points with the different delegations, particularly with the GNC delegation. "

The two-day meeting started in Geneva on Thursday (3 Sept). It has been billed as a chance to conclude talks that have been under way for seven months.

Bernardino Leon, Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) says that "what I can tell you at this stage is that the GNC (General National Congress) is still on board, all the parties are ready to continue the discussions, we have already names that have been proposed by the different participants. We hope also that the GNC delegation will join the talks next week together with the other proposing names, so we might be starting the final days of these talks and hopefully having a possibility to reach an agreement, that as you know we would like to have ready, endorsed and signed, by the 20th September."

The draft accord, so far rejected by the GNC, aims to form the national unity government for a two-year transition period to end with parliamentary elections. The hope is that a final agreement will be signed by 20 September, and be implemented around 20 October 2015.

There are still two annexes that need to be discussed – annex number one, which is the list of the Government, and annex number three, for the State Council. These will be the last ones to be negotiated.

The north African country has been split and devastated by conflict since the overthrow of President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Libya has two rival parliaments and governments and has been torn apart by violence.

The General National Congress (GNC), based in Tripoli, is controlled by Libya Dawn forces, while the internationally recognized government operates out of Tobruk, in the far east of the country.

Parties are to present their candidates for the prime minister and two deputies to lead a national unity government and get the country out of its crisis.

The UN chief negotiator wants an agreement before the mandate of the House of Representatives in Tobruk expires on October 20.

STORY: GENEVA / LIBYA PRESS STAKEOUT
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 04 SEPTEMBER 2015 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

1. Exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, photo up
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Bernardino Leon, Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL):
"We are making progress and my first comment is that we are now, after the meetings we had yesterday and today in Geneva, in a better position than where we started. We have clarified a number of points with the different delegations, particularly with the GNC (General National Congress) delegation."
4. Medium shot, Camera viewer
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Bernardino Leon, Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL):
"What I can tell you at this stage is that the GNC is still on board, all the parties are ready to continue the discussions, we have already names that have been proposed by the different participants. We hope also that the GNC delegation will join the talks next week together with the other proposing names, so we might be starting the final days of these talks and hopefully having a possibility to reach an agreement, that as you know we would like to have ready, endorsed and signed, by the 20th September."
6. Close up, camera finder
7. Wide shot, journalists
DURATION: 01:44