1st LD Writethru: UN envoy stresses importance of elections in Libya

UNITED NATIONS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy in Libya on Wednesday stressed the importance of strengthening Libya's institutions through elections.

"To lead the people, to unify the people and to take difficult decisions for the good of the people, the government must come from the people. This means elections," Ghassan Salame, the special representative of the UN secretary-general in Libya, told the Security Council.

"For the United Nations, working for the conduct of fair, free, credible elections before the end of this year is at the top of our priorities," he said via video teleconference from Tripoli.

However, he stressed that it is vital to make sure that the elections are inclusive and that their results will be accepted.

Voter registration, which ended on March 12, made great progress, he said. With one million new registrants, now 2.5 million Libyans are eligible to vote. The voter registration update saw strong participation of women and youth, he said.

While there is reason for optimism in the political process, said the special representative, there is cause for concern, particularly the prevalence of violence.

Extremists, including the Islamic State and Al Qaida, continue to maintain a presence in Libya and have conducted attacks recently, he said. Armed groups, including those integrated into the state structure, continue to operate outside of the law, perpetrating human rights abuses.

Salame, who is also the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, emphasized the importance of disarmament in the country. "Too many young men earn a living by carrying weapons, and they should be reintegrated into civilian life."

He said he would unveil a disarmament strategy by May. "However, we must be realistic. In a country awash with arms, disarmament will require time and much, much stronger national institutions," he warned.

He asked the Security Council to "exert its utmost influence" to stem the ongoing inflow of new arms into Libya.

At the heart of Libya's problems is an economic system of predation, he said. "It degrades the life of the ordinary Libyans and serves the interests of the powerful."

This system must be shattered. Resources must flow into building a strong equitable state for all, and not into the pockets of the few, said Salame.

Human trafficking is but one of the elements of this perverted economy, he said. This trade has become the main source of income for some people, leaving them numb to the sight of humans being traded as commodities or migrants being left to die as they fall off their packed pick-up trucks.

Libya is a destination, a transit country and a source of migration. The issue must be addressed strategically and across borders, he said.

He warned that there are signs of a looming monetary and fiscal crisis.

Oil revenues, though high now, are vulnerable to underinvestment or sabotage. Financial institutions are divided. Government expenditure is bloated and continues to increase. But more spending does not lead to better services. Rather, it is feared that it only benefits individual interest groups, he said.

After the 2011 revolution that overthrew longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, Libya plunged into a new civil war pitting different military factions as well as militias and small armed groups. The country remains to be reunified. Enditem