Following the proposal of the names of candidates for the presidency for a national unity government in Libya, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged parties to the Libyan “not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a State that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution.”

A statement issued yesterday by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, The UN chief welcomed today's proposal of nominees for the Presidency Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord.

“After months of turmoil and uncertainty, the Secretary-General urges Libyan leaders not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a state that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution,” the statement continued.

“Now is the time for the parties to the political dialogue to endorse this proposal and sign the Agreement without delay.”

The Spokesperson's statement also noted that the Secretary-General remains committed to supporting the Libyan people through his Special Representative Bernardino León and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).”

Speaking Thursday at a press conference in Skhirat, Morocco, where the latest round of the political dialogue has been under way, Mr. León said that “finally the moment has come in which we can propose a national unity government.”

Mr. León said he would like Libyans to see the proposal as “an opportunity for their country but also an opportunity for so many people in the region, in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, countries where they cannot even afford the luxury of what we are doing here today.”

He read out the names proposed for the government, which included Fayez Sarraj for the position of Prime Minister, current a Member of Parliament at the House of Representatives from Tripoli.

SOURCE UN News Centre