S/PV.6733 Security Council

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2040 (2012). I shall now give the floor to the representative of Libya.

Mr. President, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak before the Security Council after the adoption of a new resolution on Libya, resolution 2040 (2012). It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the delegation of the United Kingdom on presiding over the Security Council during the month of March. I trust, Sir, that you and your delegation will lead the Council’s proceedings to the optimal results. The Security Council’s adoption today of resolution 2040 (2012) is renewed evidence of the Council’s support for the people of Libya. It is also evidence of the Council’s keenness to maintain the security and stability of Libya at a historic juncture in its history as a nation. That is only natural because the stability of Libya and its prosperity as a democratic State will have a positive impact on security and peace in the wider region and the entire world. We welcome the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for an additional year, because the role of the Mission is indispensable in offering technical assistance and advice to Libya in the current critical transitional phase, especially since the new Libyan authorities have inherited a country that is almost devoid of State institutions. The authorities have inherited a State that has never experienced democracy in its contemporary history; a State that for more than two generations never witnessed elections; a State whose social fabric was torn apart by the dictatorial regime; a State that needs assistance in building its institutions and in securing justice and respect for human rights and national reconciliation; a State that needs its wounds healed so that it can go forth towards democracy, the rule of law, sustainable development and prosperity. Since the inception of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and under the leadership of Mr. Ian Martin, the Libyan authorities have been met with understanding and responsiveness on the part of all members of the Mission. It has established strong ties with re-emerging civil society organizations. I take this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Ian Martin and his team. I affirm that the close working relationship that has been formed between the Mission and Libyan authorities will continue and grow stronger in the coming period, which will witness the first democratic elections in the country since the 1960s. The Libyan transitional authorities have started reconstituting the national army to take over the work that the revolutionary brigades have been doing until now. Those revolutionary factions have underscored their desire to hand over their weapons to a party that is reliable and capable of defending the homeland. All members of the revolutionary factions look forward to going back to their daily lives and to reintegrating the unemployed among them into the various State institutions. The latter is a measure that the transitional Government has started to implement. As Council members know, Libya is a large country, with most of its borders in uninhabited areas in the desert. That will require providing the army with advanced equipment and weapons capable of monitoring the borders and safeguarding the homeland’s security. Therefore, we have asked that the sanctions and arms embargo imposed by Security Council resolutions be lifted. Addressing the issue is not a short-term matter; rather, we expect that it will be dealt with through consultations between the Libyan authorities and Council members over the next few months. I would like to confirm to Council members and the entire United Nations that there is nothing to fear from Libya — not in terms of national unity nor in terms of security threats — because our people are very aware of the critical nature of the current period and because our revolutionaries are courageous and can deflect any threat from the remnants of the former regime, which we no longer believe could threaten our security. The Council has done a praiseworthy job in defending civilians in Libya. We believe that the unity of the Council, embodied in how it dealt with the situation in Libya, is necessary in order to preserve its credibility in addressing other, similar situations. We believe that the Security Council must always stand by peoples being subjected to killing and oppression by their rulers.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council will remain seized of the matter.