Berlin: Libyans in Europe have made a fervent plea to the international community to exert pressure on Libyan parties to end the ongoing state of division, unify institutions, and facilitate free and fair elections that ensure genuine popular legitimacy.

According to Libyan News Agency, this appeal was made during a protest organized by Libyan communities in Europe, held on Friday morning in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. The protest was strategically timed to coincide with the Berlin III Conference on Libya. Participants in the protest urged the conference attendees to seek international solutions to the Libyan crisis and lend support to popular demands aimed at correcting the political trajectory, ultimately leading to elections that would conclude all transitional phases contributing to the country's current political, security, and economic turmoil.

The statement issued during the protest urged conference participants to expedite local elections, dismantle political bodies, and hold accountable those obstructing the process. It also endorsed the recommendation of the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya in Article 4, insisting on the removal of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libyan soil. The statement highlighted the grave threat posed by the current situation to millions of Libyans, necessitating swift action to curb the security and political degradation in the nation.

Addressing ambassadors and representatives of international organizations attending the Berlin Conference on Libya, the statement warned against the perpetuation of current institutions beyond their legal mandate expiration in 2023, emphasizing their failure to implement the Geneva 2021 roadmap, which included stipulations for elections within two years and ensuring political neutrality.

The statement further underscored the legitimacy of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, respect for human rights, dignity, and safety, while rejecting armed demonstrations, violence, and the use of weapons. It held authorities responsible for ensuring security, stability, and social peace, safeguarding Libyan resources and interests, ensuring accountability and punishment for perpetrators, and holding the government accountable for the violence in Tripoli.

According to the statement, protest participants are planning to establish the "Gathering of Libyan Communities Abroad," envisioned as a peaceful and public civil institution to bridge the gap between Libyans at home and abroad and the international community.