BENGHAZI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 29th June, 2020) The Supreme Council of Libyan Sheikhs and Elders has welcomed an initiative introduced by the speaker of the eastern-based parliament, Aguila Saleh, to reach peace in the North African country, Sheikh Senussi al-Haleeq, the deputy chairman of the council, said in an interview with Sputnik.
In late April, Saleh put forward a roadmap on the Libyan political settlement, which proposes the formation of the presidential council, a commission responsible for the country's draft constitution, and that presidential and parliamentary election campaigns be held. The three Libyan regions � Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan � should choose a person who will represent each of them in the council, which consists of its head and two deputy heads.
"Yes, we welcome [Aguila Saleh's] initiative to resolve the Libyan crisis and form a government on the basis of consensus. This plan of action is not new and agreed upon in Abu Dhabi, Berlin and Italy," al-Haleeq said, adding that the initiative was aligned with all Libyan tribes.
For several years, Libya has been split between two rival administrations, the UN-backed western-based government, backed by Turkey, and the Tobruk-based parliament, supported by the Libyan National Army (LNA).
On June 6, Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah Sisi had a meeting with Saleh and the LNA's commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Following the meeting, the leader of Egypt announced the so-called Cairo initiative, which includes a ceasefire throughout Libya from June 8 and the terms of a political settlement. The initiative was supported by Russia, the United States and several Arab states. Meanwhile, Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord rejected it.
