S/PV.7083 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Libya to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council has before it the text of a statement by the President on behalf of the Council on the subject of today’s meeting. In accordance with the understanding reached among the members of the Council, I shall take it that the members of the Security Council agree to the statement, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2013/21. It is so decided. I now give the floor to the representative of Libya.

I should like to thank you, Sir, for affording me this opportunity to speak at this meeting. I congratulate you on France’s accession to the presidency of the Council for this month. I also thank the Security Council for reaching an agreement on the presidential statement that has just been adopted (S/PRST/2013/21). Overall, it emphasizes the Council’s support for the Libyan people and their elected authorities in their efforts to expedite the democratic transition and the building of State institutions on a solid footing and in a stable security situation. Although the Libyan Government has come to some conclusions that differ from those on certain issues addressed in the presidential statement, we understand that the text is the result of lengthy consultations within the Council and that it was necessary to take the views of all members into consideration. We thank the delegation of the United Kingdom for its initiative in formulating the statement and for its subsequent efforts. The presidential statement sends a new message of Security Council support for our Government and people. I take this opportunity to highlight the principled position of the official Libyan authorities with regard to respect for human rights and the fight against impunity. Our authorities have spared no effort to prevent extrajudicial killings and inhumane treatment. Such practices have abated significantly in recent months. To be realistic, it is difficult to know for sure whether they will end before the police force has been reinstituted and the army has been trained to the extent that they will be equal to all the challenges they face. I believe that no one expects everything from an army of 30,000 that lacks training and weaponry and operates in a huge country teeming with armed groups that consider those institutions to be rivals. However, the General National Congress and the Government are resolved to strengthen State authority and impose the rule of law. They believe that the security situation is improving by the day, particularly in the capital, Tripoli, and its environs following the withdrawal of the armed groups therefrom. The Libyan people insist on dismantling and disarming all armed groups, and call on the official authorities every day not to resort to the use of such groups and to cease financing them in any way, including by providing them with salaries or budgetary allocations. That task will begin early next month, and we hope that the General National Congress and the Government will enjoy all possible support and backing from the Council. I wish to thank the Security Council and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for their efforts and support for our people.