Fathallah Hussein Saeiti was elected to head the new Tobruk parliament’s defense and national security committee. The 32-year-old faces an uphill battle amidst the country’s ongoing civil strife and worsening security situation and increased isolation from the international community, which Saeiti says is the biggest threat facing Libya today.

Fathallah Hussein Saeiti, were you chosen upon a certain criteria or did the parliament depend only on the voting results?

Fathallah Hussein Saeiti was elected to head the new Tobruk parliament’s defense and national security committee. The 32-year-old faces an uphill battle amidst the country’s ongoing civil strife and worsening security situation and increased isolation from the international community, which Saeiti says is the biggest threat facing Libya today.

Fathallah Hussein Saeiti, were you chosen upon a certain criteria or did the parliament depend only on the voting results?

I do not think that there is any criterion beyond the voting criteria. I believe that the person who has the capacity to successfully compete in the elections will be able to successfully do the job with the assistance of a specialized and reliable team of consultants.

With all of our respect to you, there are those who hold the opinion that your position requires an older person with a military background.

I am sorry to say that this question suggests that there is an absence of understanding of the tasks of the defense and national security committee. The committee’s task is not to lead the operation room or to draw the battles and field confrontations’ plans. Its task is of a political and technical nature and we can successfully administer it. In our culture and Islamic history, a 17-year-old boy (Mohammed bin Qasem) actually led one of the biggest battles and he emerged victorious.

What is your task? Or in other words, what kind of relations will you have with the defense ministry? 

The duties of qualitative parliamentary committees don’t need any explanation. Any parliamentary committee around the world supervises the work of the executive body for which it is responsible. It does not have the right to give it orders, but when the body under the committee’s supervision performs tasks go beyond its powers or when it neglects its tasks, it summons the head of this body in the parliament and withdraws confidence from him. 

The parliamentary committee originates from the legislative authority and the Chief of Staff originates from the executive authority and their relationship is complementary and supervisory.  

We have heard that you are going to suggest a security vision to the parliament.  What did you suggest specifically?

How could it be a security vision if it has already been published by news agencies? The security vision that will be published is the vision which the entire world will know about in the near future, God willing.

Reality on the ground in Libya suggests that there are two authorities: the parliament and a national congress.  Do you have contacts with the security apparatuses in the western area? 

The state has only one legitimate representative: the elected parliament. Communications with the security apparatuses under the control of the legitimate bodies are based on this rule. The issue is not up for discussion. It is a reality on the ground supported by the provisions of law and it is based on the will of the honorable Libyan people.

I believe that this issue is limited to two levels: first, obeying the law and second, violating the law. In between the two, any act should be taken in light of the supreme interest of the homeland and its unity. These issues require making some compromises. 

There are many rumors about Egyptian, Emirati and Qatari planes flying through Libyan airspace. Can you confirm or deny these rumors? 

These are baseless claims. Our relations with the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt and the UAE are close relations. We do not think that these two countries are going to threaten the depth of their relations with the Libyan state by irresponsible behavior that affects the sovereignty of our people. Moreover, only the eagles of the Libyan Air Force are roaming the Libyan skies and controlling them. With regards to the sisterly Qatar state, I would prefer not to give an answer.

What is the biggest threat to Libya’s national security, internally and externally?

You have asked about the greatest dangers and not all of them.  The greatest danger facing the Libyan national security, internally and externally, is a continuation of the unjustified neglect of the Libyan cause by the international community.

Because of this, there is a strong current in the Libyan administration calling for building the future policy of Libya based on the current relations with different countries. The warmth of future relationships between Libya and the rest of the world depends on these relations. 

What does Libya need in order to have stable security? 

There are three prerequisites: first, the international community should take a courageous decision to lift restrictions on the legitimate government’s import of weapons of all kinds –especially quality weapons, the provision of international logistic support to eliminate radicalism and disarmament; second giving national reconciliation major attention at all levels; third taking courageous legislative steps that support national reconciliation and help in the disarmament process.