Japan announces new financial contributions to support elections in Libya

Yesterday, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Japan to Libya, Mr. Masaki Amadera signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Mr. Marc-André Franche, at the HNEC  Headquarters, by which Japan commits Japanese YEN 198,000,000.0 (USD 1.8 M) to support UNDP’s ‘Promoting Elections for the People of Libya’ (PEPOL) project.

During the signing ceremony, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Amadera stated: “The Government and citizens of Japan are willing to support Libyan national elections as well as the political and social stability through democratic systems. We highly appreciate the efforts and great work by HNEC and UNDP. This signing ceremony is just a start. The Government of Japan will stand by the Libyan people and continue our support for a longer term.”

The ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Emad Al-Sayah, HNEC Chairperson, who affirmed: “We appreciate the support and cooperation provided by the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in addition to  the assistance received by the international community to support the democratic process in Libya.”

On his part, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Franche, said ‘’I would like to thank the generosity of Government of Japan for joining the efforts led by UNDP and UNSMIL to support HNEC in organization of presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya. Fair and free elections are at the heart of democracy because it enables citizens to elect their representatives to govern the country. With the financial support of the Government of Japan and technical support from UNDP & UNSMIL, the HNEC will be able to further advance the country’s progress on free and fair elections’’