In the second part of his interview with Correspondents, Chairman of the Libyan Council of Deputies (CoD) Agila Saleh describes how difficult it is to maintain internal dialogue, let alone invite outside players.

Chairman Saleh, the CoD has not had a session in weeks because attendance is insufficient for a quorum. What is your solution to this problem, especially since you have more than once sent invitations to attend these sittings?

In the second part of his interview with Correspondents, Chairman of the Libyan Council of Deputies (CoD) Agila Saleh describes how difficult it is to maintain internal dialogue, let alone invite outside players.

Chairman Saleh, the CoD has not had a session in weeks because attendance is insufficient for a quorum. What is your solution to this problem, especially since you have more than once sent invitations to attend these sittings?

We tried that. And during the last sitting, I told my second deputy Ehmeed Homa that we needed to meet with the Presidential Council – PC – to achieve reconciliation among its members and convince them to attend CoD sittings and change some names in the government. I was in Cairo attending the Arab Parliament Chairmen Conference and I asked him to follow me to meet the PC there. He however did not show up and instead he became one of the 100 signatories to a statement approving the government.

I like reunions, reconciliations and resolving issues peacefully without nervousness, and it was possible to reconcile among PC members because they have to fix their issues; otherwise, the country’s destiny will be jeopardized.

A group of members collected signatures outside the CoD, then they were absent for so long. They signed the Skhirat Libyan Political Agreement and then came back to the CoD. So a session was held and with legal voting and no problems. But the Constitutional Declaration should be amended legally, and if any objection is made concerning the selected people, they should be replaced because Libya has efficient people and it should not come down to personal interests and intentions.

Why did you miss Monday’s and Tuesday’s sessions in spite of your calling upon other deputies to attend?

During the previous period, I attended the majority of sessions from 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon. I missed these two sessions because I knew about the lack of quorum. And besides, I stay at a place close to the CoD headquarters so I can attend whenever there is quorum, but some deputies do not care and they keep missing sessions.

This question should be forwarded to my first deputy Mohammad Shoaib who has not attended any CoD session for more than four months. In fact, his continued absence raises doubts about his recognition of CoD legitimacy.

My social and tribal liaisons and my duties as chairman and the commander of the army take a lot of my time, so my deputies should perform their duties in managing the sittings. I am not required to attend all sessions, but whenever I am absent they call off the session.

How do you respond to those who propose to move CoD outside of Tobruk to get rid of pressure?

There is no need to do that and this would be an offence to the people of the city that have been hosting the CoD for the past several months. The problems within the CoD are among the deputies themselves, rather than caused by a tribe or an armed group. If we move, we will go to the main headquarters in Benghazi after the army fully controls it, which is likely to happen in the next couple of days.

The problems between the deputies will happen in any city. Besides, we guarantee the security and freedom of the deputies and PC members in case they come to Tobruk.

What do you think of the future of the Libyan-Libyan dialogue between the CoD and the General National Congress – GNC – which you personally support? And how would you deal with the international community if a government were to be created through it?

First of all, we do not rule out anyone in the accord since we are a part of the international community. The GNC first opposed the CoD, and other parties intervened and things evolved. But if they start seeing things clearly and admit they were wrong, they are more than welcome. If they wanted to reconcile with us and build the state and the army with us, why would we refuse? What is the harm? I support the dialogue, but only under the Constitutional Declaration and the LPA. In fact, the government will only succeed in working in Tripoli when it reconciles with the parties there.

The Libyan-Libyan dialogue does not mean it is not in line with the UNSMIL-facilitated LPA, but some fanatics might return, so what is the international community’s problem? If the Libyans agree, then what is the harm?

In your letter to Lebanon requesting the release of Hannibal Gaddafi, you described the GNC and the rescue government as groups hijacking Tripoli. Why are you starting a dialogue with them?

Hannibal is a Libyan citizen who should be treated in a decent manner until he is sentenced. He should not be insulted or delivered to outlaw groups, and it is the government’s duty to protect its citizens.

The GNC and its government are Libyans after all, and reconciliation is with opponents rather than with friends. We must not reject dialogue and reconciliation even if we have differences because we are all parts of Libya and we want to rebuild it so we should overcome our differences, which is what we are seeking following a period of hostility. We however will not give up our rights established by customs and law.