S/PV.7598 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. Members of the Council have before them document S/2015/1016, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2259 (2015). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

The United Kingdom warmly welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2259 (2015). Through this adoption, the Council gives its full support to the Libyan Political Agreement signed last week, and its full backing to a Government of National Accord based in Tripoli, as the signatories of the Agreement have pledged to establish. We welcome the process now under way to move to the formation of that Government of National Accord in the coming weeks, and we ask the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to drive forward progress to that end. We urge all those who have not yet signed to decide now to support the Agreement and to work with the Government of National Accord, once formed. The door is open and the hand of friendship extended. The Agreement is the culmination of over a year of complex negotiations among the Libyan parties. There have been false storms before, but in this Agreement we have a Libyan-led political solution that will address the political security, economic and institutional crises facing the country. We commend all those who have worked and persevered together to seek consensus in the interests of the Libyan people. I would also like to pay tribute to the role of the United Nations in facilitating the Agreement. I join with all of us in praising the energy and enthusiasm that Special Representative of the Secretary-General Kobler has brought to the process. I would also like to pass on my personal thanks to all Council members and other delegations involved, including the delegation of Libya, for their cooperation in the drafting and negotiation of the resolution. With the Agreement signed, now is the moment for all Member States to cease support to and official contact with any parallel Libyan institutions outside of the Agreement that claim to be the legitimate authority. Doing so is essential to maintaining the integrity and unity of Libyan State institutions, including State financial institutions and the National Oil Company. That is the best way to ensure that those institutions function for the benefit of all Libyans. The Agreement and resolution 2259 (2015) come at a crucial time for Libya. Instability and insecurity have allowed terrorist groups, including Daesh and Al-Qaida, to threaten Libyans and those in the region. The humanitarian situation has got worse, and human rights violations and abuses have increased. Criminal gangs have prospered, exacerbating the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. Arms and ammunition have proliferated, escalating the violence and further undermining stability and security. We therefore strongly back the Security Council’s call on Member States to support fully the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to develop a coordinated package of support to build the capacity of the Government of National Accord. The United Kingdom stands ready to play our part in that effort. In adopting resolution 2259 (2015) today, we have given a strong, collective sign of the Council’s commitment to Libya and its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity under a single Government of National Accord. But this is just the start of the process for Libya, and we must therefore redouble our efforts to help ensure that the huge potential of the Agreement is realized. In doing so, we can help deliver a stable and prosperous future for all Libyan citizens.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for all of his leadership on resolution 2259 (2015).

The Russian Federation supported the adoption today of resolution 2259 (2015), guided by the need to find an immediate way to restore the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Libya. We thank our partners for having taken into account concerns about ensuring the broadly representative nature of the Libyan political process. Russian representatives are actively participating in international efforts to assist the intra-Libyan political process, including within the Rome format. We are convinced that, as in other crises in the Middle East and North Africa, international support must be genuinely collective. External players have a heavy responsibility to help the Libyans to achieve domestic stability, acting on the basis of consolidated positions. We expect the Libyans to begin as soon as possible to implement the Agreement concluded with United Nations mediation. In our view, the priority task is for the future Government of National Accord to reach agreement with all influential political forces on the formation of robust and inclusive organs of power. We express our support for efforts undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations. We believe that the mission of our global Organization is to cooperate with all patriotic forces in achieving the fundamental task of ensuring national reconciliation in Libyan. Libyan problems can be resolved only by Libyans themselves. We call on all sectors of Libyan society to join ranks to eliminate the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and other terrorist organizations that are exploiting the prevailing chaos and anarchy for their own interests. Restoring stability and unity in Libya will help us to resolve the important task of promoting sustainable development, which is in the interests of the Libyan people and all of North Africa.

France welcomes the adoption of resolution 2259 (2015). This important resolution lends all the unanimous support of the Council to the Libyan Political Agreement of 17 December, as did several ministers with their presence in Skhirat or Rome. We pay tribute to the Libyan negotiators who shouldered their responsibilities and who prioritized the interests of their country above personal ambition. They managed to find the compromises necessary to finally offer their compatriots the prospect of ending the crisis. We also congratulate Bernardino León and Martin Kobler, who engaged tirelessly in supporting the negotiations. The political phase that is coming to an end is not a point of arrival but a starting point. We all know that the coming weeks will be decisive. The United Nations and Member States have a crucial role to play in giving their full support to the future Government, including in terms of security, to stabilize Libya and fight terrorism. France, in particular with its European Union partners, will play its full part. Let us not fool ourselves — the new authorities will soon put to the test by all those who seek to undermine the process. To the latter, we say that there is still time to join the positive dynamic that has been launched, but that if they persist in their obstructionism our Council will soon bring all the consequences to bear. I take this opportunity to personally commend my five colleagues from Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria who will soon be leaving the Council. We will miss them but they can be proud of what they and their teams have accomplished. I also wish every success in the Council to the new members that will join us on 1 January. In recent times, the Council has demonstrated its vitality and capacity to act. We end the year on several notes of hope with the adoption of resolution 2259 (2015), which opens a fragile but genuine path to peace in Libya; resolution 2249 (2015), which embodies our total, collective resolve to eradicate the scourge of Daesh; and resolution 2254 (2015), the first on the political track in Syria since the crisis erupted there. Let us work tirelessly together to nurture these seeds of hope. If I may so say, let us be inspired by the spirit of Paris — the spirit of resilience and unity that emerged from the terrorist attacks on my country and that gave birth to resolution 2249 (2015) against Daesh. It was the spirit of Paris, too, that embued the twenty-first session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and made it a success that has been hailed throughout the world and a fine symbol of the multilateral action that we all cherish, in service to the ideals of the United Nations.

Jordan welcomes the signing, on 17 December in Skhirat, by most representatives of the various political parties and tribal clans of Libya of the Libyan Political Agreement, sponsored by the United Nations. The Agreement is aimed at forming a Government of National Accord. Jordan pays tribute to the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Mr. Martin Kobler; and the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco and the neighbouring countries that hosted and backed the Libyan political dialogue. Jordan voted in favour of of resolution 2259 (2015), which was submitted by the United Kingdom, because we are convinced of the importance of providing international assistance for the Political Agreement and the future Government of National Accord. We hope that the Agreement will mark an important step forward in restoring security and stability in Libya and in achieving the aspirations of the brotherly Libyan people to the reconstruction of the State and the maintenance of its unity. We cherish the hope that the Agreement will improve the humanitarian situation in Libya and help to achieve economic development. In that respect, Jordan reaffirms the importance of international support for the Government of National Accord in all fields, as clearly stipulated in the resolution and the declaration adopted in Rome on 13 December, in accordance with the priorities and requests of the Libyans. The international community must ensure that there is no political vacuum in Libya. We would also like to reaffirm the importance of the current Government. The international community should provide it with the support and assistance necessary to manage current affairs and meet challenges until the creation of a Government of National Accord. We hope that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General will take into account those concerns. Jordan, in keeping with the resolution, urges the Presidency Council in Libya to create the Government of National Accord within 30 days and to develop security measures to ensure its stability throughout Libya. The forces of extremism and terrorism, in particular Daesh and other evil-doers, have taken advantage of the internal fighting and the deterioration of the situation to occupy significant strategic areas. It is therefore important to oppose terrorism within the framework of an international partnership with the Government of National Accord and legal institutions based on the Skhirat Agreement. Finally, we would like to reaffirm the importance of the sovereignty of Libya, as well as its independence, security, and territorial integrity and unity. We wish to underscore the importance of having the Security Council continue to back the brotherly nation of Libya for a better future in dignity, freedom, stability and security.

Spain applauds the unanimous adoption of resolution 2259 (2015), which demonstrates the international community’s recognition of efforts to pursue dialogue with a view to bringing Libyans together under the auspices of the United Nations. Those efforts culminated in the 17 December Skhirat Agreement, the signature of which was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. With today’s resolution, the Security Council notes the broad domestic support for the Agreement and gives it international legitimacy. The resolution serves as a reminder to all parties and sectors of Libyan society of the urgent need to join in the common project represented by the Agreement. It also reminds us of the need to hold accountable those who obstruct or disrupt the transition process. In that vein, I would like to stress three ideas. First of all, it is important to strengthen the Agreement by attaining the greatest internal consensus possible. In our view, the letter circulated to the Security Council today is not in alignment with the constructive spirit that the international community requires or expects of the relevant stakeholders in the Libyan conflict. Secondly, it is critical that all parties work together to implement the Agreement and create a Government of National Accord. That is the only way to resolve the serious humanitarian and economic crises in the country, and to address the security threat represented by the presence of Daesh and other terrorist groups on Libyan territory. Thirdly, it is essential that the international community, along with each of our countries, remain ready to work to strengthen and expand the support of all Libyans for the Agreement, making it possible to establish a new Government in a safe Tripoli, the capital of a united country. Since the beginning of the crisis, Spain has firmly supported the leadership of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, as well as the work of the two Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, Mr. León and Mr. Kobler. I wish to highlight the good work done by Martin Kobler, who was able to go beyond the basis provided by the Agreement and the names proposed by his predecessor after extensive inclusive consultations. The crisis does not allow for improvised solutions. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate my country’s commitment to the Libyan people, which has been demonstrated by our political support for the process, aimed at achieving peace in and the territorial unity of Libya, but also our commitment to humanitarian assistance and to tackling human trafficking networks. We stand ready to extend our cooperation to the Government of National Accord as soon as it is formed, so that it may achieve what was defined so accurately by Martin Kobler as peace, security, and prosperity in a united country.

China welcomes the adoption of resolution 2259 (2015). The Libyan political dialogue process under United Nations auspices has made important progress in recent days. China welcomes the signing by various Libyan parties of the Libyan Political Agreement and the announcement of the expeditious establishment of a Government of National Accord. That is a reflection of the ardent hope of the Libyan people and various parties in Libya for the stabilization of the domestic political situation and for prompt realization of peace and stability. China has always advocated for a political settlement of the Libyan conflict and actively supports and participates in the Libyan political dialogue, while supporting the mediation efforts of the international community, in particular that of the United Nations. We hope that the parties to the Libyan conflict will effectively implement the Political Agreement, advance the inclusive political process, establish the Government of National Accord, achieve comprehensive reconciliation and restore national stability at an early date. China is ready to join all parties concerned in continued efforts to achieve peace and stability in Libya and in the region.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2259 (2015). We believe that it is an important initiative that expresses the entire Security Council’s political commitment to supporting the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement signed on 17 December in Morocco — the fruit of mediation efforts supported by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. We would like to acknowledge the efforts undertaken by the various parties representing the Libyan people, and especially, by the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General representing the United Nations, Mr. Bernardino León and, currently, Mr. Martin Kobler. Our country harbours every hope that the signing of the Political Agreement will promote a definitive political solution to the armed conflict in Libya, which has been submerged in chaos and violence since the 2011 military intervention that adversely affected every aspect of the country, in particular the political and security spheres, in addition to economic and social development and the enjoyment of human rights in that brotherly African nation. Venezuela has always supported a political solution to the conflict. In that vein, we wish to express our support for the establishment of a Government of National Accord that will ensure peace and stability, address the major humanitarian, economic and security challenges, and uproot the terrorist groups operating in that country and North Africa, in particular the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Ansar al-Sharia and Al-Qaida, which continue to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. The Government of National Accord that will be formed in Libya must take every necessary measure, with the support of the international community, to put an end to the illicit trafficking in arms to terrorist groups and non-State armed actors operating in Libya and throughout the African continent and stoking conflict in Iraq and Syria. The Security Council has adopted resolutions in that area that must be strictly implemented. Furthermore, the new Libyan authorities should work decisively to ensure the promotion and protection of the human rights of their citizens. In that regard, we urge them to strengthen their cooperation with the International Criminal Court in order to facilitate the handover of Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadhafi, so that he can be brought to trial in an impartial manner in accordance with due process. Our country is aware of the grat challenges facing the new phase of the Libyan process. The international community must therefore redouble its efforts to help Libya resolve its grave institutional and security crisis and thereby prevent an escalation of the conflict. We urge the authorities of the new Government of National Accord to guarantee the sovereign management of its natural resources, in particular its oil, for the benefit of its people, in order to help overcome the country’s grave social situation. We call on the international community to provide the Libyan people with the resources necessary to alleviate the fragile humanitarian situation, which continues to deteriorate as a consequence of the prolonged fighting among the various factions. Unfortunately, smugglers and human traffickers have taken advantage of the situation to profit from the pain and desperation of Libyans seeking to escape the terrible conditions in which they live. To conclude, we call on all parties to the Libyan conflict to show their sincere commitment and political will to reach a political solution to the situation. We urge the parties that have not signed the Agreement to join this effort for peace, stability and development. The priority should be the well-being of the people, the preservation of their human rights, respect for their self-determination, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and national reconciliation among all Libyans, without preference for any group and regardless of political, ethnic or religious positions.

Nigeria welcomes the signing on 17 December of the Libyan Political Agreement of Skhirat, Morocco, which signals the acceptance by Libyan leaders of a political solution to the conflict in their country. Now, the people of Libya have chosen the path of truth  — the path to lasting peace  — as almost five years of conflict have proved that a military solution is unattainable. The Agreement is a crucial first step in stabilizing the country. The parties must now begin to implement it in good faith. Nigeria voted in favour of resolution 2259 (2015), which the Council has just unanimously adopted, with a sense of duty and responsibility. The resolution demonstrates the Council’s commitment to the peace, security and stability of Libya. It addresses the key challenges that Libya faces, notably the threat posed by the Islamic State and other terrorist groups to the security of the country. Nigeria fully supports the formation of a Government of National Accord to unite the country and confront those challenges with a renewed sense of vigour. The people of Libya must seize the moment and the opportunity to rebuild their country. In that endeavour, all hands must be on deck to support Libya’s comprehensive reconstruction.

I shall now make a very brief statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. Today’s unanimous vote welcomes an important and historic step taken by the Libyan people. Over the past year, with the tireless facilitation and support of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), a broad array of members of the Libyan Political Dialogue have worked together to build an inclusive and representative Government to lead the country forward in its transition. That diverse group included members of the House of Representatives and the General National Congress, women, civil society members, leaders of municipalities and political parties, and independents. Through the adoption today of resolution 2259 (2015), the Council affirms their courageous efforts and welcomes the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement in Skhirat, Morocco, on 17 December. With this resolution, the Council sends a clear message that the Government of National Accord will become the sole legitimate Government of Libya, as set forth in the Agreement. The United States urges all Libyans to unite behind the Libyan Political Agreement and to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the formation of the Government of National Accord by working together towards peace, stability and the rule of law. As Special Representative Kobler has noted, “The door will remain open to those who wish to join on the road to peace”. As to those who reject the path set forward by the Libyan Political Agreement  — who seek to undermine the Libyan people’s hope for peace  — the United States will seek to work with the international community to hold them accountable. After so much turmoil, the Agreement offers Libya a chance — a chance to reclaim the opportunities first made possible by the 17 February 2011 revolution. We all know that the new Government of National Accord will have no shortage of challenges in the days ahead, but the Libyan people will not face them alone. The United States and other Member States will work closely with the Government of National Accord and its leadership to ensure the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement and to provide support to the Government as it begins to serve and protect the Libyan people. As the Government of National Accord works to improve security, we will work closely with it to defeat affiliates of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in Libya and to eliminate the threat they pose to our collective security. Through this resolution, we recognize the Libyan people’s enormous accomplishment in forging the Agrement. We look forward to working together to see it through, and we thank Special Representative Kobler and the UNSMIL team for their heroic dedication to this mission and to all the Libyans from all parts of the country who worked tirelessly to make the Agreement possible. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Libya.

I would like to start by conveying my gratitude to the Security Council for affording me the opportunity to speak in this very important meeting. I would like, of course, to thank the delegation of the United Kingdom for its efforts in authoring resolution 2259 (2015), which the Council adopted moments ago. I also welcome the presence of Mr. Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, in the Chamber. I thank him and his team for the efforts they have always made to help Libyans achieve consensus and to put an end to the crisis in our country. As today is the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, may the peace of God be upon him, I congratulate all Muslims throughout the world and express the hope that his birthday will remind us of his goodness, his respect for all faiths and his rejection of violence and injustice. I also congratulate all Christians upon the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, may peace be upon him. I hope the convergence of these two birthdays will lead to peace and security for all peoples throughout the world. There is no doubt that the Political Agreement reached in Skhirat in brotherly Morocco on 17 December represents a significant step forward in Libya’s history. The Agreement is the result of the intra-Libyan dialogue that has lasted for more than a year now. The dialogue has been sponsored by the United Nations and advanced by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Although the Agreement is a compromise, given that it was reached through negotiation and therefore cannot meet the aspirations of all parties, it represents the best of what we can achieve and the highest common denominator on which the parties could agree for the sake of Libya and all Libyans. The significance of the resolution adopted by the Council today derives from its support for the Libyan Political Agreement and the institutions to be created pursuant to it. Since those institutions will serve as the sole legal authority in Libya, the resolution urges all parties to join and implement the Agreement. Needless to say, the Security Council is not imposing anything on Libya or Libyans. It will not create its Government or its Presidency Council. That is the fruit of the agreement of the House of Representatives. The Government of Abdallah Al-Thinni will continue to exercise authority until the creation of a Government of National Accord, in keeping with the provisions of the Political Agreement. Most and possibly all Libyans understand that the Agreement is the fruit of 14 months of very difficult negotiations and represents the only hope for restoring State sovereignty and ensuring the survival of Libya as a sovereign, unified State. The Agreement is the only hope for ending the chaos and bloodshed and for ensuring that reconciliation, understanding, justice and the rule of law prevail following years of atrocities, fear and insecurity, both inside the country and outside, scattering Libyans as refugees and displaced persons. It is high time that Libyans of all stripes understand that their interest lies in backing the Government of National Accord and the implementation of the provisions of the Political Agreement. The success of the Agreement will depend first and foremost on the armed groups. They bear a heavy responsibility to banish the spectre of war, especially from the capital, Tripoli. Moreover, we urge all these armed groups to agree to the security arrangements. We wish to see the national police force resume its functions now that it has the necessary weapons and equipment, and the Government of National Accord exercise its functions from its headquarters in Tripoli. The Government of National Accord will undoubtedly prioritize the integration of armed groups into the security, military and civil institutions of State, in keeping with international professional criteria. All of the spoilers and troublemakers who wish to prevent the implementation of the Agreement must understand that their attempts will not succeed, that history will judge them, and that they must place the mother country’s interests over their own narrow, personal interests. They must understand that they can achieve nothing outside the framework the Libyan Political Agreement, which was achieved over a year of negotiations, with the facilitation of the United Nations, following all other attempts to end the bloodshed and Libya’s failure to emerge from its crisis. Under resolution 2259 (2015), if these troublemakers were successful in preventing the Government from exercising its authority and role from its headquarters in the capital, they would be subject to international sanctions. They have to understand that the international community intends to help Libyans, under the guidance of the Government of National Accord, and that it will provide the assistance necessary to bolster security and safety as part of the counter-terrorist struggle. Daesh was able to take control of the city of Sirte and to turn it into a colony for foreigners as a result of the division and chaos in Libya, and the support provided by certain States. It was able to ally itself with elements of Ansar Al-Sharia and Al-Qaida and to launch a campaign to recruit young, unemployed, poorly educated individuals who are basically illiterate but just about able to follow social networks and listen to those who claim to be pious and to understand the rules of Islam. Any delay in the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement will benefit terrorists and extremists and promote their expansion throughout Libya, allowing them to exploit its wealth. As a result, the law of the jungle will prevail in Libya with the assistance of foreign criminals from all over the world. As a representative of Libya at the United Nations, I can state unequivocally that all Security Council members have a genuine desire to help Libyans extricate themselves from their tragedy. Libyans yearn to see the creation of a Government of National Accord as rapidly as possible. Members of the Council wish to see the House of Representatives assume its functions and operations and cooperate in the implementation of the Skhirat Agreement. Libyans must unite. They must reject hatred. They must foster trust among themselves and reject conspiratorial thinking. The international community has never conspired against them, and they themselves must not conspire with foreigners against their mother country. They can only unite to expel foreigners who bear arms and seek to control the country and its resources. That is the only path towards the reconstruction of our country and the forging of a better future for themselves and their children. By way of conclusion, I would like to thank the five members  — Chad, Chile, Jordan, Malaysia and Nigeria — whose mandate will be complete at the end of this month for their very effective and invaluable contribution to the work of the Council.

I take this opportunity to wish Ambassador Dabbashi, his delegation and the Libyan people peace over the next weeks as we head into the New Year. Again, I underscore what we said yesterday, when we thought we were speaking for the last time, about how invaluable the contributions our colleagues who are leaving the Council have been. However, they are not going far, and we know they will be a critical part of maintaining peace and security and advancing United Nations values more broadly. We have been so lucky to work together.