Libyan Political Dialogue Forum resumes amid coronavirus cases

By Mucahit Aydemir

NYON, Switzerland (AA) - The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which was suspended because of the coronavirus, resumed Wednesday in Switzerland.

"One participant tested positive during routine on-site testing process on Tuesday following which contact tracing was held this morning and three more cases were detected," said Jean Alam, spokesman for the UN Support Mission in Libya.

The participants are under medical care and in self-isolation, he said. "All health measures are strictly followed to allow the continuation of the LPDF deliberations."

The LPDF meetings began Monday, seeking to build constitutional safeguards acceptable to all sides ahead of the Dec. 24 presidential and parliamentary elections that aim to consolidate the peace process.

After the cases were found, the third day of sessions was briefly halted.

As part of the UN-led dialogue, meetings of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee were held on Oct. 23, 2020, in Geneva. As a result of the meetings, a permanent cease-fire agreement was signed between the legitimate Libyan government and delegations affiliated with warlord Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

Within the scope of the political process that started after the cease-fire agreement, the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum decided in November that elections will be held the following December.

Libyans hope the new unity government will end years of civil war that have engulfed the country since the ouster and killing of strongman Muammar al-Qaddafi in 2011.