S/PV.7420 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Egypt and Libya to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them documents S/2015/216 and S/2015/218, which contain, respectively, the texts of two draft resolutions. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2015/144, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, as well as to document S/2015/113, which contains the special report of the Secretary- General on the strategic assessment of the United Nations presence in Libya. I also wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2015/128, which contains the text of a letter dated 23 February 2015 from the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1973 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security Council. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/2015/216, which was submitted by Angola, Lithuania, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2213 (2015). I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/2015/218, which was submitted by Jordan.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2214 (2015). I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolutions 2213 (2015) and 2214 (2015). We are at a critical phase in the United Nations- facilitated talks in Libya. The international community must unite behind Special Representative Bernardino León and speak with one voice to help ensure that the Libyan parties reach agreement on a National Unity Government. Renewing the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) today is therefore an important sign of our continued strong support for León’s work, for political mediation and for resolving the current crisis through dialogue. The consequences of failure are clear to see. Instability and insecurity has allowed terrorist groups, including those affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Qaida, to threaten Libyans and others in the region. It has created a deteriorating humanitarian situation and increased human rights violations and abuses. It has led to the proliferation of unsecured arms and ammunition that helps escalate the violence and further undermines the stability and security of Libya and its people. We therefore welcome the refreshed focus on the UNSMIL mandate for supporting as a priority the political process in Libya, as well as assisting Libyan institutions, monitoring human rights and countering arms proliferation. We support the reaffirmation of sanctions and arms embargo measures. We echo the calls for an end to the violence, the need for accountability and for more cooperation with the International Criminal Court. Resolution 2214 (2015) is a strong collective sign of our commitment to supporting Libya’s fight against terrorism. We have seen the dangerous rise of ISIL-affiliated groups across North Africa and its consequences for regional security. The murder of Egyptian Coptic Christians, the Al-Quba bombings and, most recently, the attack in the Tunisian Bardo Museum leaves us in no doubt that concrete steps must be taken to tackle the threat. The United Kingdom is ready to play its part in that effort. It is vital that counter-terrorism and political efforts continue in parallel. The absence of a strong, united central Government in Libya strengthens those who wish to plunge the country and the region into chaos. A National Unity Government is therefore critically important for Libya’s counter-terrorism efforts.

We thank the members of the Security Council who voted in favour of resolution 2214 (2015), presented by Jordan in conjunction with Egypt and Libya and in application of the Ministerial decision of the League of Arab States. The threat represented by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and other terrorist organizations in Libya made it incumbent upon us as the Security Council to take the initiative and express our support for the legitimate Libyan Government in its efforts to combat terrorism, especially the terrorism brought by ISIS, Al-Qaida and Ansar al-Sharia. In addition, in this resolution, the Council has expressed its support and encouragement for States to assist the Libyan Government in its efforts to fight terrorism. Without concerted efforts to fight terrorism, the situation in Libya and the region will deteriorate and have repercussions not only in Libya but in all of North Africa, the Middle East and the entire world. In that regard, we must support the efforts of the legitimate Libyan Government which requires that the sanctions committee accelerate consideration of the requests of the Libyan Government to obtain the equipment and weapons it needs, as called for explicitly by the resolution. Jordan supports the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General together with those of the Libyan leadership to reach a political solution to the growing challenges Libya is facing, including the need to complete the democratic political transition, build State institutions and embark on the reconstruction of the country. At the same time, we affirm the need to proceed in the fight against terrorism in parallel with the political efforts under way without confusing the two.

The United States reaffirms its unwavering support for the critical work of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Bernardino León, in his tireless efforts to facilitate the formation of a National Unity Government as part of the next phase of Libya’s political transition through United Nations-led dialogue. Today’s Security Council resolutions — resolution 2213 (2015) and 2214 (2015) — reaffirm support for León’s efforts to facilitate a political dialogue in order to form a National Unity Government. The Council also urges all parties in Libya to engage constructively with León’s efforts and calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The United States stands firmly behind the United Nations-led political dialogue process, Special Representative León and his efforts to usher the parties towards a lasting and peaceful settlement to Libya’s political and security crisis. In recent months we have seen how violent extremist groups, such as Daesh, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Ansar al-Sharia elements and Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, are the only ones who benefit from a divided Libya. The most effective, comprehensive and sustainable way to counter-terrorism is through a unified Libyan effort, supported by the international community. It is therefore critical that Libyans form a National Unity Government as soon as possible. With our vote today to renew the mandate for Special Representative León’s efforts, through the mandate renewal of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, we signal our continued commitment and determination to support a political resolution to the crisis in Libya.

I would like to express our satisfaction at the unanimous adoption of resolution 2213 (2015). Faced with the crisis that Libya is experiencing, the essential thing for Spain is unity —the unity of the entire international community beginning with the Security Council, unity among the countries of the region, which have a great influence on Libya, and unity among the Libyans themselves. The first paragraph of the resolution is very clear. It calls for an unconditional immediate ceasefire, highlights that there can be no military solution for the ongoing political crisis and calls on all parties in Libya to cooperate with the United Nations in forming a National Unity Government. This is the only possible path for Libya. We do not say this only because it is a matter of principle; it is our very pragmatic position. We believe that an armed confrontation in Libya will not lead to anything. United Nations mediation is the best guarantee for stability in the country in the medium term. The emergence of Daesh has brought to light one of the greatest dangers that this crisis poses if it not swiftly resolved: that Libya will become a new sanctuary for jihadism. It is a strategic country which is an excellent platform for attacks on Europe, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. In this vein, we also support resolution 2214 (2015), submitted by Jordan, to combat terrorism in the region and we are pleased that it has been unanimously adopted. We also approve the renewal of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for only six months with the hope that in this time the formation of a National Unity Government will make it possible to change its mandate. With this resolution we commit ourselves to following more closely the situation in Libya. Indeed, the Council is taking a great step forward today, and we hope it will have a positive effect on all of the parties to the conflict in Libya.

I now give the floor to the representative of Libya.

I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to address the Council at this very important meeting. Given the late hour, I am going to be very brief. I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the Council for unanimous vote in favour of resolutions 2213 (2015) and 2214 (2015), which have just been adopted. This is further evidence of the unity within the Security Council in support of the Libyan people in their struggle to emerge from the difficult situation with which it currently struggles. Before I proceed, I must express my gratitude to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United Kingdom for their efforts in preparing the draft resolutions and in leading the consultations on them. I would like in on behalf of the provisional Libyan Government to welcome the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and to reaffirm the continued support of the Libyan Government for the efforts of the Mission in carrying out its mandate. We look forward to a more effective role being played by the Mission in the coming months, especially with regard to providing support for the rebuilding of State institutions. We also reaffirm the readiness of the Government to provide assistance for the Panel of Experts in carrying out its duties within the limits of available resources. I should also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the important role of UNSMIL in facilitating the political dialogue seeking to resolve all outstanding problems in Libya and to form a national unity Government. I would like to commend the patience and persistence of Mr. Bernardino León, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and his team in bringing together the Libyan parties and facilitate dialogue among them. We know that the task is very difficult, and made even more so at times by ambivalence, lack of clarity, misinterpretation and at times even outright incitement against role of the United Nations. But it is also evident that very significant progress has been achieved through the dialogue and that hope has become brighter and more visible to Libyans that agreement can be reached and the bloodshed ended, especially now that several issues have been clarified at the recent meeting held in Skhirat, Morocco, and given the positive reactions to the draft document submitted by Mr. Bernardino León to the interlocutors. Moreover, the reaction of these interlocutors and partners in dialogue was positive. The entire Libyan people looks to the United Nations to assist them today, just as it did last century in the early 1950s. The great majority of the Libyan people do not doubt the neutrality of the United Nations or the sincere wish of UNSMIL to assist Libyans in emerging from this crisis. But it is to be expected that criticism will be made by those who wish to see chaos continue, who object to the building of State institutions, who do not wish to lose the gains and privileges they have acquired, and who do not care about the lives lost every day, about refugees and internally displaced persons, or about the future of our children. But what is certain is that all of these people constitute only a very small minority and that the Libyan people will stand behind any agreement reached by the interlocutors. I am certain that the interlocutors realize they are playing an historic role and that they will not overlook the greater interests of the country or fail the Libyan people. Resolution 2214 (2015), dedicated the topic of fighting terrorism in Libya, is in itself an indication of the attention paid by the Council to the growing threat in Libya. There is no doubt that the legitimate Libyan authorities will spare no effort in continuing to combat terrorism. We look forward to implementing the resolution, in particular its paragraphs 7 and 10, requesting the sanctions committee to review in an expedited manner the requests for exemptions from the arms embargo that are submitted in order to provide weapons to the Libyan Army and also support for the efforts of the Libyan Government and its allies in combating terrorism. But we also look forward to assistance from those States that can bring influence to bear on certain armed groups allied with terrorist groups so as to convince them to disengage themselves from terrorism and to join the efforts of the Government in combating such terrorism. Large numbers of Libyan young people have joined armed groups, through which they receive funds. Unfortunately, however, they have found themselves in alliance with terrorist groups. Now they are becoming senseless victims, being killed and injured. They do not realize that they are thus destroying not only their own futures but that of their country. Therefore, those who can assist the legitimate Libyan authorities to save these young people should do so.

I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Allow me at the outset to express my gratitude to the members of the Security Council for having adopted resolution 2214 (2015) on combatting terrorism in Libya. Specifically, I wish to thank the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Arab member of the Security Council, for having submitted the resolution and exerted great efforts in recent days to garner the support of all members of the COuncil. We hope that the adoption of this resolution will provide a qualitative leap in the efforts of the international community in combating the scourge of terrorism that has spread throughout the Middle East and in Libya in particular. The events of recent months have proven that terrorism is now a transnational phenomenon. The cancer of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has spread across borders and its criminal actions have touched many throughout the world. That organization now controls vast areas in more than one country in the Middle East. The international community must therefore deal with that threat decisively and firmly. It is impossible to coexist with terrorism or to negotiate with it. During the deliberations of the Council this morning, we heard testimony from victims of terrorism that established very clearly the extent to which these violent creature will go now that they have given up all human values, killing people and stealing property without hesitation. This requires us us to combat terrorism without distinguishing among its different manifestations, be it in Iraq or in Libya, now that its effects are spreading to other countries. While the Arab Republic of Egypt welcomes this resolution, it realizes that its adoption does not mean that terrorism has been defeated in Libya. It is merely the first step in a lengthy and arduous journey that will require great effort and sacrifice. Egypt believes that, now that the resolution has been adopted, the international community must take the following clear and practical steps in order to eliminate this danger. First, the international community must implement paragraph 3 of the resolution, which urges Member States to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts in Libya in coordination with the Libyan Government and the most affected countries in the region. Secondly, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) should implement paragraph 7, which urges it to consider expeditiously requests by the Government of Libya, taking into consideration that this Government is the only member of the international community that is combating terrorism on the ground in Libya, in light of its responsibilty to protect its population, and that the threat of terrorism in Libya has greatly increased over the recent period, which therefore requires substantial equipment and effort in order to eliminate it. Thirdly, in order to implement paragraph 8 of the resolution, States with significant counter-terrorism expertise should directly contact the representatives of the legitimate Libyan Government in order to identify its genuine needs, in particular with regard to capacity-building in the areas of security and gathering intelligence about the weapons and abilities of terrorist organizations and should provide that support as soon as possible. Fourthly, the international community must deal firmly with all external parties that are proven to be providing any form of support, including moral support, to terrorist parties in Libya because this danger can only be eliminated by drying up its sources of financing and weapons. In conclusion, the path of combatting terrorism in Libya is distinct, but runs parallel to the country’s political process, which is being guided by the able efforts of Mr. Bernardino León. In that regard, I wish to express Egypt’s strong support for this important process, which is crucial to resolving the conflict in Libya. We have been in contact with Mr. León in order to identify ways in which we can support the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. We wish the Mission every success in serving the Libyan people.