General elections can overcome Libya crisis, says envoy

ANKARA

The crisis in Libya can be overcome by holding general elections, Turkey's Special Envoy for Libya, Emrullah Isler, said Wednesday.

Isler said the ongoing crisis in the volatile country was because of political disputes, which could be resolved if general elections were held as soon as possible.

The political crisis is the basis of other problems in Libya, he said.

Last month, the envoy visited Libya for two days.

On Nov. 6, the Supreme Court of Libya ruled that the parliamentary election in Tobruk was unconstitutional, which overturned all lawmakers' decisions.

Isler called on all warring factions in Libya to end the violence in the country.

Libya has been dogged by political instability since the 2011 ouster and death of strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Since then, rival militias have frequently locked horns, bringing violence to Libya's main cities.

The envoy also recalled that Libya’s interim government and other businessmen wanted Turkish companies to resume their projects in the troubled North-African country.

According to Isler, the Libyan officials and entrepreneurs vowed to provide a safe atmosphere for Turkish companies to resume their work in Libya.

The envoy said he believed his last month's visit reflected international support and recognition of the legislative and executive authorities in Libya, along with support for U.N.-sponsored national dialogue and reconciliation in the country.

The sharp political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government in Libya, each of which has its own institutions.

Two assemblies currently vie for legislative authority, the recently-elected House of Representatives that convenes in Tobruk; and the General National Congress, which – even though its mandate ended in August – continues to convene in capital Tripoli.

The two parliaments support two different governments respectively headquartered in the two cities.