Reporter: Libya - Democracy is a learning process

There are only a few places where the 2,500 people in this camp can get water. Living conditions are hard. All these people are Libyan and they were the losers in the revolution. Their crime is to be from the town of Tawergha and to have a dark skin, like Gaddafi's mercenaries. They were driven out of their lands and found refuge in this former naval camp. They live like sardines, in one room. 17 people, 15 people, 12 people, 10 people, in one single room. Since they arrived, the refugees have suffered violence from militias. Seven people have died and many have been injured. People emotionally and psychologically are unhappy and dissatisfied because they want to go home. That's all they want. Are people still scared about attacks? They cannot even go down the street now. If they go, they've sometimes been abducted from the streets. Many people have disappeared. In a hall in the camp, men have come to ask for help from Europe. Ana Gomes, a Portuguese MEP, is there to listen to them. She is assessing the democratic process begun in Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. There will be no security, not only for your community, but for Libya, without reconciliation. What I think we can do is to ask for and to help with reconciliation, with dialogue, so that the people of Misrata accept you once again. Inside, there was a mood for debate. Outside, people spoke more directly. This is a result of your intervention in the war. So now you have to handle the result. The next day in Tripoli at 9am, an armoured car was waiting for the EU's Ambassador and Ana Gomes. The convoy set off for the city centre. Security precautions were elevated. Many weapons are in circulation in Tripoli. Security is a priority for diplomats. All the international institutions present employ private security companies. I think the biggest risk is from a stray bullet. People have an argument over nothing, over an accident, and out come the guns. So the biggest risk is to arrive just when they get out their guns and fire. That can be the problem. Insecurity can also intensify a bit just like that. In this climate of insecurity, elections are due to be held on 7 July. Ana Gomes has seen countries in crisis before. The Portuguese ex-diplomat met representatives of Libyan political parties, the best way for her to get a feel for the country. We estimate that in five or six years we will have something we call democracy. But until we reach that point it's not easy. We were under a dictatorship for 48 years in Portugal until 1974. I lived through the dictatorship, so I understand... And then I lived through the transition and I know the transition is messy. It's chaotic. Democracy is a learning process. Nobody is born knowing how to practise democracy. The only way to learn is to practise. The meetings continue. They are also a chance for the EU Ambassador to explain the role of Europe in Libya. We are here first of all to assess the preparation for the elections, the first free and fair elections. We are here to help, of course. We are here to witness these historic events. After five hours of meetings with four political parties, the first impressions are quite encouraging. In the plurality of points of view, there is much coincidence and there is a willingness to work towards the building of democratic institutions in Libya. That was what struck me. All these people from different parties and different experiences of life are really very keen to contribute to a democratic future for Libya. This won't be Ana Gomes's last trip. She'll return to follow the electoral process which will be crucial to forming a new assembly that will have the task of writing the country's constitution.

EuroparlTV video ID: fd5c5440-a4f0-474e-8159-a089010d7747