UN Envoy Welcomes Libya’s Successful Voter Registration

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ian Martin, has welcomed the successful conclusion of voter registration ahead of the country’s legislative election scheduled for June.

In a statement on Wednesday, Martin said the accomplishment ''is a major milestone'' and a source of pride for the Libyan people who endured 42 years of denial of political rights.

He said he was also encouraged by the high level of interest political parties had demonstrated in participating in the electoral process.

''This has been a huge challenge and undertaking in terms of logistics and security planning, particularly in the context of Libya’s post-conflict transition and the fact that there had been no electoral experience more than four decades,'' he said.

The envoy also congratulated residents of Benghazi for participating in the election of their local council leaders in a calm environment.

Libyans are scheduled to vote for members of a new Constituent Assembly in late June.

The Libya’s Higher National Electoral Commission has announced that 2.7 million people of voting age had enrolled as voters by the end of the registration period on Monday.

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