(AGENPARL) – Rome, 13 april 2021 – Responses from Jonathan M. Winer to Questions for Mr. Camilloni of Agenparl EU

Jonathan M. Winer was the U.S. Special Envoy for Libya, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Law Enforcement, and an advisor to U.S. Senator John Kerry. He has written and lectured extensively on U.S. policy in the Middle East, counterterrorism, international money laundering, illicit networks, corruption, and U.S.-Russia issues.

In 1999, he received the State Department’s second-highest award, for “contributing to the greatness of the Department and the U.S. government to deal with international crime and criminal justice as important foreign policy functions.” The award stated that “the scope and significance of his achievements are virtually unprecedented for any single official.”

In 2016, Winer received the highest award granted by the Secretary of State, for “extraordinary service to the United States government” for preventing the massacre of more than 3,000 members of an Iranian dissident group in Iraq, and for guiding U.S. policy in Libya “from a major foreign policy embarrassment for a fragile but democratic, internationally recognized government.”

Question: You have stated that Washington could take a “pragmatic approach” to Libya under the new Biden administration over Trump’s past. The United States under a new administration could pursue a more demanding stance towards foreign powers intervening in the Libyan civil war, while coordination with Turkey remains possible. In your opinion, there will be a stronger US policy from the point of view of democracy towards the war-torn North African country and in this context what role would Italy have?

Jonathan M. Winer. During the Obama years, the United States partnered closely with the Italian to promote stability and recovery in Libya. The consultations were constant, taking place weekly and sometimes even daily. The Italian government undertook many useful initiatives with Libya, involving humanitarian support, political support, and promoting economic recovery, as well as trying to find areas of promoting security that would be free from being politicized in a negative way within Libya. Continued Italian involvement in Libyan multilateral diplomacy can help to make a difference in bringing Libyans together as well as forging international alignment on Libya. What Italy, and all western countries, should avoid, is becoming too identified with any one Libyan political figure or group. The more neutral and inclusive each country is in their work with prominent Libyans, the better the chances are that Libyans themselves will move forward with the end-of-2021 elections that are essential for its future. In the meantime, help with maritime security, public health, including vaccinations for COVID, and with continuing the momentum for political talks, are among the many areas where the Italian government and its expertise can continue to be helpful.

Question: Agenparl read about Saif Al Islam al Qadafi’s proposed Constitution for Libya based on five key points. In your opinion, will the draft of the new fundamental charter be able to restore dignity, national reconciliation as well as the construction of a system that guarantees the right to equality for all the Libyan people?

Jonathan M. Winer. Ensuring dignity, national reconciliation and the construction of a system that guarantees the right to equality for all Libyan people — and which protects it in practice – are of fundamental importance for Libya’s future. The Libyan Constitutional Drafting Committee prepared a draft constitution in July 2017. That draft should be submitted for approval through a general public referendum. If that is not possible, Libya still should proceed to elections for 24 December 2021 on the basis of an amendment to the Constitutional Declaration in which a president is chosen by universal, free, and direct suffrage and by absolute majority of the votes cast. It would be best if this is all authorized by the current House of Representatives. But if the House of Representatives does not act, elections can still take place through back-up processes that are being developed by the Legal Committee of the Libyan Political Dialogue.

Question: The new elections were postponed from March to December. Men and means are needed for the reconstruction of Libya. In your opinion, will tomorrow’s Libya also pass through Saif Al Islam al Qadafi and its cancellation from the black list?

Jonathan M. Winer. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi remains designated under UN and US sanctions, and also remains subject to an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. There are complex legal issues associated with him in these cases and in his legal situation in Libya. Whatever happens to Mr. Gaddafi should follow the rule of law and the principles of justice.