S/PV.8341 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. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, to participate in this meeting. Mr. Salamé is joining the meeting via video tele-conference from Tripoli. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2018/780, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear briefings by Mr. Salamé and Ambassador Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. I give the floor to Mr. Salamé. Mr. Salamé: I would like to congratulate the United States of America on its presidency of the Security Council this month and thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to update the Council. In each and every briefing I have given to the Council, I have stated that the status quo in Libya is untenable. The violence that consumed the capital beginning on 26 August shattered the façade of calm that had prevailed in Tripoli since May 2017. Tanks and heavy artillery were deployed into residential neighbourhoods. Sixty-one Libyans were killed and 159 injured. Many of those who died were civilians, including children. Families were forced to flee their homes. Looting and crime became commonplace as gangs took to the streets. Hundreds of criminals broke out of prison. Migrants were either trapped in detention centres or turned onto the street. The city stood on the brink of all-out war. On 4 September, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) brokered a ceasefire between the major parties to the conflict. That has effectively halted the fighting and started the restoration of some order to the city. The Mission is now working to protect that fragile peace and enable it to take root. As a first step, we are offering technical assistance and good offices in support of the ceasefire. Groups that violate the ceasefire must be held to account. The United Nations and the international community are watching each and every one of them. The time for impunity is behind us. We will not allow a repeat of 2014. This outbreak of violence is but the latest in a series of crises that have engulfed Libya. The events surrounding the oil crescent region in June and July effectively threatened to split the country. In the past few weeks, the nation has lurched from one emergency to another. On 10 August, armed groups forcibly evicted displaced Tawerghan families from the Tariq Al-Matar camp for internally displaced persons. Some Tawerghans were killed and injured. Homes were demolished and those Libyans were forced to flee, leaving them homeless for a second time in seven years. Despite the welcome return of several more families to Tawergha — totalling approximately 100 families by the end of August — basic infrastructure and services are still lacking, making a dignified return very difficult. We have warned all armed groups against any repetition of that totally unlawful behaviour. The forced displacement of people is unacceptable, and of those already displaced, doubly so. That was made clear to all those tempted by it. After the horrendous attack on the High National Electoral Commission of 2 May, on 23 August the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for an attack near Zliten, which claimed the lives of four police officers. ISIL presence and operations in Libya are only spreading. I alert the Council of the possibility that Libya may become a shelter for terrorist groups of all persuasions and ask the Council to help address with that looming threat. In recent weeks, the Chadian Government and Chadian opposition forces have been fighting one another, operating from southern Libya. Over 1,000 fighters have been involved in the hostilities, risking the south becoming a regional battleground and safe haven for foreign armed groups. The recent agreement signed between Chad, the Sudan, the Niger and Libya needs to be implemented so that Libya does not also become an alternative battleground for others. The signatories have asked for support from the international community for the implementation of those agreements, and I hope that Council members will positively consider their requests. In the eastern city of Derna, sporadic clashes and air raids continue. The United Nations is facilitating humanitarian assistance to affected families in the city. I reiterate my call upon all parties to exercise restraint and protect the lives of innocent civilians. Abuse and exploitation abound within prisons and detention centres, which we continue to have great difficulty accessing, both in the east and in the west. Refugees and asylum seekers in detention centres have resorted to hunger strikes as a means to resolve their bleak living circumstances. That situation should, however, not be used as an excuse for any armed group to open the gates to terrorists and criminals interned or to displace them to other locations. All the while, the citizens of the country suffer deteriorating standards of living, as they have for the past years. Now, for many, every day is a personal emergency. We must not return to the status quo ante. In crisis lies the opportunity to tackle the underlying causes. To restore stability to Libya, there is an urgent need to establish strong and unified civilian and military institutions that work for the benefit of all citizens. The Mission is now focusing its work in two intertwined areas. First, and in order to underpin the ceasefire, we are working to revise the security arrangements in Tripoli in order to reduce the influence of groups that use arms to achieve their parochial goals. In the coming days, UNSMIL will continue to hold broad consultations to strengthen the ceasefire and assist in the establishment of a monitoring mechanism. At the same time, we will continue to work with our Libyan counterparts to identify concrete steps towards reshaping security in the capital and developing more sustainable arrangements. UNSMIL will endeavour to facilitate that effort in an inclusive and pragmatic fashion, laying the foundations for longer-term efforts to stabilize the country through the reunification of the security sector institutions. The previous security configuration empowered groups that acted in a predatory manner against the residents of the capital, against the State and against sovereign institutions. Indeed, members of some armed groups, nominally acting under the Ministry of the Interior, have kidnapped, tortured and murdered employees of sovereign institutions, including the National Oil Corporation and the Libyan Investment Authority. Our public criticism of the predatory behaviour of armed groups in the capital was warmly welcomed by Libyans, who are fed up with living on the poverty line while their national resources are looted by gunmen turned millionaires. Our stand has produced a salutary impact in many cases. The State capture must end — not to the benefit of other armed groups, but with the full control of the legitimate authorities. The Council’s support on that is crucial. The Mission’s second priority is to address the economic issues that underpin the crisis and erode the daily lives of citizens across the country. I would like to state plainly that if an end is not put to the plundering, there is little chance that we can move either the economic reforms or the political process. We urge action on the agreed upon economic reforms, which are essential and overdue. I call upon the Central Bank of Libya and the Government of National Accord to immediately move forward on currency exchange rate and subsidy reforms. We are also committed to advocating for a more equitable distribution of wealth in Libya, focused not on appeasing groups based on their military strength, but on providing for citizens based on their need. UNSMIL believes that the request of Prime Minister Faiez Serraj for international support for a financial review is a valuable opportunity to bring transparency and accountability to how the country’s wealth is managed. In response to the Security Council’s request of 19 July to the Mission to provide suggestions on the modalities of such a review, I have been engaged with Libyan and international partners. I convened the Governor of the internationally recognized Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli and the head of the parallel Central Bank in the east for a meeting at the UNSMIL office to agree on the broad parameters of the review. On 24 August, the Secretary- General submitted to the Council my proposals for how to proceed. That preliminary process has created hope, with many Libyans welcoming the meeting of the two officials — something that has not happened in the past four years. That was a first step towards unifying the Central Bank, which is a crucial step towards unifying the country. When the political process grinds to a halt, some will believe that there is opportunity to force change through the barrel of a gun. The Libyan public has made a clear decision on how this change should come to pass — peacefully and democratically through elections. That was widely reflected during the national conference consultations, a report on which is currently being prepared. It should come as no surprise that the Libyans want change in their political leadership. The members of the House of Representatives were elected over four years ago by around 15 per cent of the population. The members of the High Council of State, which represents a fraction of the members of the General National Congress, were elected six years ago. The members of the Government of National Accord assumed their roles not through elections but by appointment, and many of them have been inactive for a long while. If national elections are to take place, a number of conditions must be met. They will require great effort to achieve, but they are achievable. The United Nations is working hard to put those conditions in place and thanks the international community for its support. Time and time again, the House of Representatives has promised to produce referendum and election legislation. After three sessions dedicated to the referendum law and numerous delays, the House of Representatives has failed to deliver that legislation. Those who have an interest in maintaining the status quo have spared no efforts to resist the needed change. I will not mince words. Many members of the House of Representatives are failing to do their job. They seek to subvert the political process to their own ends, behind the guise of procedure. It is clear that they simply have no intention of relinquishing their positions. They have put in place legal provisions to maintain their authority in perpetuity. For the personal ambitions of a few, all Libya’s citizens have paid a steep price. I welcome any rapprochement between the two Houses and take note of their recent meetings in Tripoli, but that activity must be directed towards advancing the political process, not towards ensuring their longevity. In line with instructions from the Secretary- General, I have been exhausting the traditional avenues to move the legislative process forward. So far, they have either been blocked or designed to lead nowhere. If legislation is not produced soon, we will close the chapter on that approach. There are other ways to achieve peaceful political change, and we will embrace them with no hesitation but, indeed, with enthusiasm. I am fully aware that the members of the Council are not mere spectators to the Libyan’s crisis; members want it over as soon as possible. Their unified, determined and vocal position is what the Libyans need to hear if the citizens of that country are to enjoy the peace and tranquility that they are desperately looking for.

I thank Mr. Salamé for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ambassador Skoog.

In accordance with paragraph 24 (e) of resolution 1970 (2011) of 26 February 2011, I have the honour to report to the Security Council on the work of the Committee established by the same resolution. The report covers the period from 17 July to 5 September, during which time the Committee met once in informal consultations and conducted additional work via the written silence procedure. During the informal consultations held on 23 August, the Committee heard a presentation by the Panel of Experts on its final report under resolution 2376 (2017) and discussed the recommendations contained therein. I will not summarize the report, as it will be published shortly. As per practice, Libya was invited to read the report, after discussion in the Committee and prior to publication, in the offices of the Secretariat. Committee members expressed their support and appreciation for the work of the Panel of Experts. The main issues raised during the discussion included violations of the arms embargo; violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including in the context of human trafficking and migrant smuggling; illicit exports of crude oil and refined petroleum products from Libya; and the implementation of the assets freeze. Of the 14 recommendations contained in the report, seven are addressed to the Security Council and seven to the Committee. Of the seven recommendations addressed to the Committee, the Committee agreed to take follow-up action on two. The Committee requested additional written justification from the Panel regarding three recommendations. The remaining two recommendations require no Committee action at this stage. With respect to the arms embargo, the Committee received a request for exemption, invoking paragraph 9 (c) of resolution 1970 (2011), from Malta. Consideration of that request is ongoing. Concerning the measures aimed at preventing illicit exports of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, the Committee received a vessel designation request. The Committee referred the matter back to the requesting State seeking some clarification and recalling the procedures contained in resolution 2146 (2014), as modified and extended by resolution 2362 (2017). The Committee also sent a letter to Libya seeking any information it may possess in relation to the matter. With respect to the asset freeze, the Committee received a notification, invoking paragraph 19 (a) of resolution 1970 (2011), from the United Kingdom, regarding the legal expenses of a listed entity, the Libyan Investment Authority. In connection with the travel ban, the Committee approved an extension to the exemption request submitted on behalf of Mr. Sayyid Mohammed Qadhaf Al-Dam, who had been authorized to travel from Libya to Egypt on the grounds of humanitarian needs. The Committee also approved an extension request submitted by Ms. Safia Farkash Al-Barassi, who had been authorized to travel from Egypt to Oman, on the same grounds. During the period under review, the Committee received communications from the Focal Point for De-listing, established pursuant to resolution 1730 (2006), in connection with the de-listing requests, from the travel ban measures only, of Ms. Fakash Al-Barassi and Ms. Aisha Al-Qadhafi. The process of consideration of both de-listing requests is ongoing. Lastly, I received a letter from the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan, proposing the convening of a joint meeting with that Committee, as well as the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan, to discuss the activities and presence of Darfuri rebels in Libya and South Sudan. A specific date for that joint meeting, which would be the second such meeting, is yet to be determined. The Committee also received an implementation report from a Member State.

I thank Ambassador Skoog for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council who wish to make statements.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General not only for his very sobering briefing, but also for all his work on Libya. Through him, we would pass on our thanks to his team. The first point I would like to make is to strongly condemn the escalation of violence in and around Tripoli that has caused many casualties and endangered the lives of innocent civilians. That does not help the Libyan people, and it also does not help the cause of Libya’s stability. While the results of the mediation efforts reached yesterday in Tripoli by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) are very welcome, we hope that they will help us to de-escalate the violence and ensure the protection of civilians. However, I think from what the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said, it is very clear that there is a lot more to be done and that there are a lot of underlying factors that really need to be tackled. I want to set out our very strong support for the Special Representative. We need a durable cessation of hostilities in Tripoli. That is a critical step to advancing the political process, in accordance with the United Nations action plan. We call on all parties to cease hostilities and immediately abide by the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United Nations. We reiterate our support for the Presidency Council and the Government of National Accord as they work with the United Nations to promote reconciliation and a Libyan-led political process. That is underscored even more by the events in Tripoli. A more inclusive political statement would help bring greater stability to Libya. That is a truism, but the whole point of truisms is that they are correct. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/780) of 24 August on UNSMIL rightly highlights the need for progress on the implementation of the United Nations action plan. I also want to express the United Kingdom’s support for elections this year. Elections are an important part of Libya’s transition, but it will be necessary to ensure that sufficient political security and that technical preparations be made, so that they have the effect of uniting Libya. It will be important to ensure that a robust legal framework is in place and that there is sufficient political consensus to avoid exacerbating existing divisions in Libya. The counter-terrorism threat is, of course, a very important issue, but I just wanted to register our concern at the humanitarian situation in Derna, to emphasize the need to allow humanitarian access for the civilian population, and to say that those responsible for human rights abuses will need to be held to account. Based on that, we have a number of action points that we would like to call for today. The first call is on all Libyan parties to refrain from actions that undermine the ceasefire announcement, jeopardize the security of civilians or set back Libyan efforts to advance the political process. The second is to call on the House of Representatives to deliver progress on a constitutional basis for the elections. What we heard from the Special Representative about the problem was frankly dismaying. Failure to sort that out will cause further stagnation and the only people who will lose are the Libyan people. We call on Libya’s leaders to work together to address the suffering of the Libyan people while the election preparations are under way. They urgently need to agree economic reforms and unify Libya’s economic institutions to ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth across the country. We also encourage progress on the Prime Minister’s request to enhance transparency in the Central Bank of Libya. Finally, I should like to say a word about oil. We welcome the resolution of recent events in the oil crescent, and we welcome the fact that Libya’s National Oil Corporation is continuing its vital work on behalf of all Libyans. The priority now is to repair infrastructure, honour contractual obligations and, having lifted the state of emergency in eastern Libya, to restore oil exports and production. It is very important that the Council remain in very close touch with the Special Representative, given the situation on the ground. We are very happy to do that if Council members would find it helpful. We are also ready to circulate a draft press statement.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ghassan Salamé, for his very clear and powerful briefing on the latest developments in Libya. I also want to thank the Swedish Ambassador for his briefing on the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya. First, I echo the sentiments of previous speakers in voicing France’s alarm in the light of recent developments in Tripoli. For 10 days, the security situation in the Libyan capital has deteriorated sharply, with grave humanitarian consequences that risk jeopardizing the political process. The clashes are unacceptable. France has expressed its condemnation of the violence, both in its national capacity and alongside its partners, and called for the actors to put an end to them. We commend the efforts and commitment of the Secretary-General and of his Special Representative, which made it possible to reach a ceasefire yesterday. We are resolutely committed at their side and within the Council in order to ensure that the return to calm is both effective and lasting. Secondly, countering all elements that jeopardize the fragile political balance and take advantage of the situation to ransack Libya’s economic resources must remain our priority. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/780) is crystal clear in that regard. The Special Representative has underscored that point on several occasions before the Council. Economic predation endangers the political, security and social balance in Libya. Moreover, the latest clashes in Tripoli seem to have been partially financially motivated. The humanitarian situation is also a matter of concern, particularly the plight of migrants and refugees, who are victims of human rights violations. France therefore calls upon the Libyan authorities to do their utmost, in partnership with the international community, to ensure that migrants and refugees are treated with dignity. This is a priority for the protection of human rights and the fight against organized crime, which will be more successful once a political settlement in Libya can strengthen Libya’s national institutions. It is important that the international community reiterate that anyone who threatens Lybia’s peace, security and stability will be subject to international sanctions, in line with the resolutions of the Council. Thirdly, it is more important than ever to make headway in the democratic transition in Libya. At this sensitive time, it is all the more critical to unanimously reaffirm our support for Mr. Salamé’s road map, as we did on 16 July (see S/PV.8312). The Libyan stakeholders must work with the Special Representative to advance the political process without pushing back the deadlines on the pretext that situation does not allow for it. Let us not deceive ourselves. The enemy of Libya and of Libyans is the status quo, for the status quo means an economy of predation and a playground for traffickers and organized crime, which are like a disease seeking to destroy our joint efforts in Libya. We cannot allow that, which is why it is essential to move forward along the clear path outlined by Mr. Salamé. In order to do so, it is critical to organize elections according to the timetable agreed on 29 May in Paris by the four key players on the Libyan political stage, who pledged before the international community to adopt a constitutional basis for the country and to hold presidential and legislative elections on 10 December. Upholding those commitments is crucial if we are to escape the current stagnation, which only fuels instability. Libyans need progress and want elections. The enthusiasm for being included on the voter registry, as indicated in regular polls, is unambiguous. That is also the Secretary-General’s first observation in the report under consideration today. Since the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is soon to be renewed, France remains fully committed to supporting the implementation of the Special Representative’s road map, particularly with regard to the preparation for elections. France will therefore back a one-year renewal of the UNSMIL mandate in order to build upon the current political momentum and to breathe new life into it. On behalf of France, I reiterate our full confidence in Mr. Salamé and pledge our full support to him. We also underscore the need for the Security Council to remain firmly united in backing his efforts and the efforts of the United Nations.

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea expresses its thanks for the briefing presented by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Mr. Ghassan Salamé. We take this opportunity to convey our unconditional support for the tireless discharge of his duties to bring about a unified, peaceful and prosperous Libya. We also thank the Secretary-General for his 24 August report (S/2018/780), and express our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden, for his briefing in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya. We wish to begin our statement by condemning the escalation of violence we have seen starting last week in Tripoli due to clashes among various armed groups. We are pleased that, thanks to the great efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) under Mr. Salamé and the meetings held with the parties concerned, a cessation of hostilities agreement has been reached to put an end to the clashes, which have claimed dozens of lives, injured many, caused significant material damage and exacerbated the humanitarian situation. Consequently, we call on all parties to respect the agreement reached yesterday, 4 September, and to find lasting, peaceful solutions to ensure the security of the people of Libya and its institutions. Health and humanitarian aid personnel must be granted access in order to help the victims without risking their own lives. We therefore urge Libyan authorities to cooperate to that end. We would be remiss if we did not express our condolences and respect to the people of Libya for the innocent lives lost during the clashes. We also wish to stress that the perpetrators of such acts must be inexorably brought to justice. Those events show the critical importance of carrying out the comprehensive implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement and the United Nations action plan for the country with a view to definitively bringing the long transition period to an end. Those instruments can hardly be implemented if the country continues to be fragmented into different factions, with various power centres, especially given the significant role of armed groups acting with total impunity and the influence of such groups in political and socioeconomic sectors, as well as the uncontrolled, illegal flow of weapons, despite the measures imposed by the Council. The parties to the conflict must refrain from taking actions that could exacerbate the already complex situation. All of that leads us to what has been repeated on various occasions: Lybia’s stability primarily requires reconciliation through direct, frank and inclusive dialogue among the parties. In that regard, we once again commend the work of UNSMIL in particular, as well as the African Union and the European Union, in the fervent hope that the presidential and parliamentary elections can be held later this year as planned and that Libya can re-emerge and restore normality with a view to securing a prosperous future. In order to achieve that, the efforts to combat armed groups, smugglers, human traffickers and terrorist organizations must be ramped up, and the Government of National Accord given even greater support so that it can regain full control and the capacity it needs to govern in total autonomy and sovereignty, and enabling the Army to be unified, among many other measures. In conclusion, we would once again like to highlight and condemn another worrying issue, which is the human rights violations that migrants and refugees are enduring on a daily basis in detention centres in Libya and at the hands of human-trafficking networks. Since it is such a lucrative source of income for these networks, the traffic in human beings bound to continue until the situation is brought to an end. We therefore call on the Council to act with urgency, proportionality and energy to solve the problem, which continues of be one of enormous concern for Equatorial Guinea. In the face of these problems, we believe it is vital to rethink the situation and take appropriate steps. We therefore want to say that Equatorial Guinea will support all well-founded, impartial and suitable proposals that can help to end all acts that constitute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and are an obstacle to the restoration of peace in Libya.

We appreciate the convening of this meeting and the important briefings by Special Representative Ghassan Salamé and Ambassador Skoog of Sweden, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. Peru deplores the outbreaks of violence in Tripoli in the past few days, especially where they have led to the death of civilians, including children. We urge all the parties concerned to respect the ceasefire and protect civilians. We support the efforts and good offices of the Special Representative in that regard. We have been closely following the progress of the implementation of the United Nations action plan for Libya, as well as the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to facilitate a political solution, led by the Libyans themselves, that will produce institutions capable of exercising authority over the entire territory. In line with the presidential statement of 6 June (S/PRST/2018/11), we consider the Libyan Political Agreement to be the only viable framework for overcoming the current political stalemate among the main stakeholders, and in order to do that we want to emphasize the importance of improving the participation of civil society, especially women and young people. In that regard, we would like to highlight the role of the National Conference, promoted by the Special Representative, which has enabled the direct participation of more than 7,000 citizens in more than 40 cities, and has channelled their concerns and expectations in an open and inclusive dialogue. We look forward to his final report on that. However, we have to express our concern about the lack of progress in realizing the changes proposed by the Political Agreement, owing to the stagnation in the negotiations between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State. It is essential that the parties make a good-faith commitment to reversing the situation. It will also be essential to continue working to ensure that the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for December take place as agreed on at the Paris conference. It is urgent that the relevant rules be adopted and the necessary security and financing guaranteed. We also want to emphasize the importance of mass participation by the country’s citizens, particularly women and young people, as well as the various political forces’ commitment to accepting the election results within the current legal framework and avoiding any deterioration of security in Libya. We also underscore how important it is that the international community and regional organizations maintain their support throughout the process. On another topic, we note with concern the deterioration of the Libyan economy and its potential impact on the country’s stability. If the conflict is to be overcome, a commitment on the control and the transparent and efficient management of the hydrocarbons that represent the country’s main resources is essential. In that regard, we eagerly await the proposals that the Secretary-General has requested for improving Libya’s financial institutions’ transparency, unity and operation, based on some essential reforms that can ensure that the country’s public resources are managed appropriately, transparently and efficiently. We believe that the Mission can use its good offices to promote those efforts, which should include independent audits and actions aimed at facilitating the legitimate Libyan authorities’ financial control over the entire territory and its resources. It will be important to ensure that there is no repetition of the incidents regarding the control of oil terminals and increase security at production facilities. The international community must also be firm and united in recognizing the legitimate representatives of the Libyan Government. In that regard, we would like to highlight the decisions agreed on at the economic dialogue in June, and we join the Secretary-General’s call to the Libyan authorities to comply with the economic reforms agreed there. Lastly, we must express our concern about the continuing reports of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Libya. It will be crucial to address the vulnerable situation of the country’s thousands of migrants, particularly women and children, and the unscrupulous activities of organized crime and its links to terrorist groups. In that regard, we want to support the Secretary-General’s call for the closure of the detention centres and to salute the valuable work of UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in their efforts to protect unaccompanied migrant children. I would like to conclude by thanking Mr. Salamé for his work and reaffirming our support to his team and to UNSMIL as a whole in this historic context of defining the future of Libya.

We thank Special Representative Salamé and Ambassador Skoog for their comprehensive updates on the situation in Libya and on the activities of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. Despite some positive steps undertaken by the Libyans, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the international community, the violence and confrontations between the rival armed groups continue to grow. We are very concerned about the recent escalation in violence in and around Tripoli, which has resulted in many casualties among civilians, including children. In that regard, we would like to commend the successful mediation efforts of Special Representative Salamé and UNSMIL in facilitating a ceasefire agreement between the armed groups. Such actions not only threaten the lives of hundreds of civilians, they also undermine the progress that has been made so far in implementing the United Nations action plan. The latest escalation of the situation once again proved how vital it is to immediately focus on the country’s largely unaddressed structural political issues and on the multiplicity of armed actors on the ground with conflicting agendas, the most alarming of which is Libya’s conversion into a centre for the activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, as the Special Representative said today. Every effort must therefore be made to build and strengthen State structures, the armed forces and the security sector, which in turn can enhance political stability. There is an urgent need to implement measures to improve the socioeconomic conditions that can have a positive impact on the political process and stability in the country. My delegation fully supports the Secretary- General’s observation in his latest report (S/2018/780) that while elections must be held in order to renew the mandates of Libyan institutions and establish a new executive authority, it is equally important that the proper conditions be in place. Establishing a secure atmosphere conducive to the successful holding of elections and enacting appropriate electoral legislation will ensure that the right conditions are created. We call on all Libyan parties and stakeholders to maintain a strong commitment to the common goal of seeking a political settlement to the crisis. It will be vital to ensure that the authorities in Tripoli and Tobruk continue their engagement in order to resolve their differences through an inclusive dialogue and political means. Lastly, the international efforts to advance political reconciliation in Libya should be consolidated under the umbrella of United Nations leadership. In that regard, Kazakhstan commends the Special Representative’s efforts and encourages him to continue his engagement with a wide range of actors with a view to broadening their support and commitment to the political process. We in the Security Council should remain united and support his efforts to achieve a sustainable solution on the ground.

I would like to thank Mr. Ghassan Salamé, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his very informative briefing on recent developments in Libya. I also want to thank Ambassador Olof Skoog, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, for his presentation. Let me begin by expressing my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, as well as my wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured in recent clashes in Libya. We condemn the recent escalation of violence in and around Tripoli in the strongest terms, particularly the indiscriminate shelling by armed groups that resulted in killing and injuring civilians, including children. We therefore call on all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law, including by taking every possible precaution to protect civilians and ensure that the wounded and sick are cared for, including through medical evacuations. We remain concerned about the human rights violations and abuses that have been committed in the context of detention, as well as the prolonged arbitrary detention of thousands of men, women and children without due process. We therefore call for the closure of the detention centres and respect for the human rights of detainees. A zero-tolerance policy on torture, summary executions and killings in custody is a prerequisite for building a country based on the rule of law. We call on all Libyan parties to cease hostilities immediately and abide by the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United Nations and the reconciliation committees. In that regard, we welcome yesterday’s result of the mediation by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya designed to de-escalate the violence in and around Tripoli and ensure the protection of civilians. With regard to the political process, we welcome the strong engagement of Libyan women in political, peacebuilding, recovery and reconciliation efforts, commend the dedicated work that has been done to ensure their participation in the National Conference process and underline how vital it is to ensure their inclusion in the political process. In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to Special Representative Salamé and the staff of the United Nations presence in Libya for their dedication and support to achieving a peaceful end to the transition in Libya.

We thank Mr. Salamé for his objective briefing and support his efforts to implement the United Nations action plan approved by the Security Council and aimed at helping Libyans to unify their country and ensure its socioeconomic recovery. We realize that the differences among Libyans run too deep to expect rapid progress. We believe that the main prerequisite for the success of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya will be the ability to unite international efforts to achieve a settlement, which means refraining from competing political initiatives. And if agreements are reached, it will be essential to make every possible effort to implement them. We are extremely concerned about the unfortunate developments in Tripoli over the past few weeks. The escalating situation was halted only thanks to the courageous efforts of Mr. Salamé and his team. The ongoing clashes have shown the pointlessness of the attempts to portray the situation in the capital as being stabilized. Owing to the force of these objective circumstances, the authorities in Tripoli continue to have extremely limited capabilities and have to rely on the dominant armed groups. Most unfortunately, unification of the security forces has still not begun, although it should be a priority. Even the widely proclaimed project to establish a so-called presidential guard has still not been realized. We welcome Mr. Salamé’s efforts to help the parties to the conflict reach a lasting agreement on a cessation of hostilities. We call on Libyans to stop the escalating violence and unite to restore and rebuild their country and combat terrorism. We call on external sponsors to work to unify Libya, encourage efforts aimed at centralization and to remember that Libya, with its rich history, culture and natural resources, belongs to its people alone. Outside actors should contribute to national reconciliation in Libya and the key coordinating role of the United Nations could be improved. We believe that every useful initiative deserves attention and support, but isolated political acts without a clear strategy are very unlikely to raise intra-Libyan reconciliation to a qualitatively higher level. Every step should be aimed at unifying the country on every possible level. Russia maintains contacts with all parties, encouraging them to seek compromises for the sake of peace and stability in Libya and the Mediterranean region. We support establishing a consolidated mechanism for external assistance in the settlement process, under the auspices and with the help of the United Nations. We support the efforts to steer the political process towards the holding of general elections by the end of the year. Needless to say, we should bear in mind that favourable conditions are essential for that. Libyan society must be ready to enter the electoral phase, because if not, elections will only reopen old wounds and lead to a new cycle of confrontation rather than the desired reunification, inevitably complicating the political efforts of the United Nations. We have been closely following developments in the vitally important oil sector, on which the well- being of Libya’s citizens depends. Natural resources should be used for the benefit of every single citizen of the country, not as pocket change in the geopolitical arrangements of other States. Issues pertaining to the control of oil infrastructure, export operations and the functioning of banking and financial institutions should be resolved by Libyans themselves through dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations. The participation of international financial organizations in these processes should be carefully considered and the position of the Libyan authorities taken into account. The Secretary-General underscores in his report (S/2018/780) that support for the dignified and safe return of internally displaced persons is a key priority for the international community’s humanitarian assistance to Libya, and we are in complete agreement with his position. There should be a similar approach in Syria, free of politicized attitudes. We thank the Ambassador of Sweden, in his capacity as Chair, and his team for their professionalism in coordinating the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. International restrictions are not an end in themselves but should rather contribute to the political process, which is why from now on we will take an extremely careful approach to sanctions measures that do not have obvious added value. We are concerned about the situation of migrants and refugees in Libya and the abuses of their rights, but a long-term solution to that problem is certainly not to be found through sanctions. For that, effective criminal prosecution has to be launched at the national level. International cooperation is very important, including within the framework of the relevant entities. No attention has been given to criminality in countries of destination for migrants. Lastly, we have not seen any serious attempts to deal with the root causes of these mass migrations, which originate first and foremost in dire socioeconomic situations and conflicts, including some provoked from outside. We must work on improving the situation in these regions, after which people will return to their homes of their own volition. Libyans have been complaining for a long time about the significant losses they have sustained where their assets in foreign credit institutions have been frozen in accordance with Security Council decisions. The situation should be impartially evaluated in order to make the best possible decision without going beyond the existing sanction frameworks. Another ongoing pressing problem involves the illegal flow of weapons into Libya, which affects both its own security and that of the surrounding region. In the absence of a centralized State authority and a united army, talk about easing the arms embargo would be premature. Furthermore, the strictest possible control is required when delivering products for military use in Libya within the framework of existing exemptions, in order to ensure that they are not lost or misappropriated. Who wins when weapons or military technology fall into the hands of armed groups, foreign mercenaries or even terrorists, who are still present in Libya to this day? Russia and Libya are linked in a historically friendly and mutually respectful relationship in many areas. We want to advance and deepen our cooperation with Libya, but if we are to stabilize it we must unite international and regional efforts as quickly as possible.

At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), for his valuable briefing. I would also like to thank the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Sweden, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, for his briefing on the Committee’s work. My statement will focus on two main issues — developments on the security and political fronts, and economic developments. First, with regard to security and politically related developments, the unfortunate recent escalation of the security situation in the capital has had negative repercussions for the regional and international efforts aimed at establishing norms governing security and stability in Libya. We are concerned about the escalation of military operations, including shelling and indiscriminate firing in populated areas, which have led to dozens of deaths, including of women and children, as well as many injuries. We call on all Libyan parties to halt the fighting immediately, commit to the ceasefire agreement mediated by UNSMIL, engage seriously and constructively in a dialogue to stop the escalating violence in Tripoli and its suburbs and thereby prevent further human losses. That will give the United Nations and other regional and international actors a sufficient opportunity to reach a lasting and comprehensive political agreement to the benefit of our brother people of Libya. The Libyan situation on the ground is suffering from instability and a lack of security, and it is therefore incumbent on the international community and the Security Council to step up efforts to permanently end the proliferation of armed groups, which can be done by supporting the establishment of unified, legitimate security institutions under the control and supervision of the State. That will help to promote the transitional and political processes based on the United Nations action plan and ensure that terrorist hotspots — such as those connected to Da’esh, which is exploiting the political and security vacuum to carry out its destructive schemes — are not increasing. Turning to the United Nations action plan in Libya, we commend the role played by UNSMIL in organizing the National Conference, which brought together approximately 7,000 Libyan men and women from various parts of the country. They reached a consensus on the need to end the transitional period and unify various Government institutions by holding elections. We look forward to seeing the House of Representatives and the High Council of State conclude their discussions on the necessary amendments to the Libyan Political Agreement so as to address the concerns and aspirations of the Libyan people in their efforts to rebuild their State. Secondly, with regard to economic issues, it is clear that the security problems in Libya in the second half of this year have been detrimental to the country’s economic situation, with oil production declineing from 1 million to 315,000 barrels a day, owing to the armed confrontations in the oil crescent region. That in turn has affected the State’s budget for 2018, adopted after an agreement between the Presidency Council and the Central Bank of Libya. It is important to make every effort to bring about economic stability and development in Libya through the commitment of all the Libyan authorities to instituting fair economic reforms that can bring long-term gains, in line with the agreements reached by the Libyan parties participating in the eighth round of economic dialogues, held in Tunisia in June, which would empower the country’s economic institutions to provide general services to the Libyan people. In that regard, we stress the importance of ensuring accountability on the part of Libya’s financial and economic institutions in order to preserve the people’s wealth. We commend Mr. Salamé’s rapid response to the Security Council’s request on the need to submit proposals aimed at unifying financial institutions in Libya in line with the United Nations action plan. That comes in the light of the letter to the Security Council from the Head of the Presidency Council, Mr. Faiez Serraj, on reviewing the state of the internationally recognized Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli and the Central Bank in eastern Libya. In conclusion, we reiterate our support to Mr. Salamé’s efforts to facilitate a comprehensive Libyan political process pursuant to the United Nations action plan. We urge all Libyan parties to work for a peaceful settlement through serious and constructive engagement at the technical, legislative, political and security levels needed to ensure the holding of transparent, comprehensive and peaceful elections, with a view to building a unified and stable Libya.

The Chinese delegation thanks Special Representative Salamé and Ambassador Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, for their briefings. The security situation in Libya remains fragile. Terrorist forces are running rampant and the problems concerning refugees and migrants are acute. However, with the support of the United Nations, regional organizations and neighbouring States, Libya has made difficult but steady progress with its political transition. China has been closely following the latest developments in the situation in the country. We welcome the ceasefire agreement signed by the armed groups involved in the recent hostilities in Tripoli. We call on the relevant parties to immediately put an end the conflict, resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations and continue to advance the political settlement process with a view to achieving reconciliation and stability as soon as possible. The international community should continue to step up its support to help Libya restore stability and effective governance as soon as possible. First, we must stay committed to a path of political settlement for the Libyan question. The international community should respect Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and firmly advance the Libyan-owned and Libyan-led political process. All parties in Libya should commit to an inclusive dialogue with stakeholders from both national and local levels so as to build consensus, narrow differences and find solutions that are acceptable to all. Secondly, we must build a better security environment in favour of the political process. Countries and organizations that have influence should play a dual role in engaging with the Libyan parties so that they will not resort to the use of force at the slightest provocation. It is through confidence-building measures that reconciliation can be achieved. A unified national security agency should be established at an early date to create favourable conditions for the implementation of the United Nations action plan. The Libyan parties should make greater efforts at dialogue, settle their differences, continue to foster mutual trust and cooperate in combating terrorism and organized crime. Thirdly, we must strengthen the United Nations role and capacity to offer its good offices. China supports the Special Representative in leading the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to move forward the implementation of the relevant United Nations action plan. We support Libya in advancing the formulation of a constitution and amendment of the Libyan Political Agreement in order to prepare and organize presidential and parliamentary elections. We hope that Libya’s neighbours, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the European Union and other parties will increase their efforts to promote peace and work together towards the implementation of the United Nations action plan. China has always held the view that sanctions are not an end in themselves, rather they are a means that should always serve the political solution of relevant problems. While sanctions on Libya remain enforced, attention must be paid so that such sanctions will not negatively impact Libyan civilians in third countries. The sanctions should not harm the overall interests of Libya or the everyday lives and humanitarian needs of the Libyan population. The continued loss of Libya’s frozen assets is an issue that deserves close scrutiny. We hope that the sanctions Committee will speedily look into that issue and respond appropriately to Libya’s legitimate concerns in that regard. We support any efforts that will help stabilize the situation in Libya, facilitate a political solution of the issue and promote unity among various parties in joining hands to fight terrorism. We stand ready to continue to do our part in contributing to the early restoration of security and stability and the achievement of prosperity and development in Libya.

My delegation thanks Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), for his informative briefing on the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/780) on the developments in Libya and the challenges ahead for the restoration of peace and stability in the country. We also thank Ambassador Olof Skoog for the quality of his briefing on the thirty-first report of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya. At the previous briefing on the situation in Libya (see S/PV.8312), my delegation, like other members of the Council, welcomed the handover by the Libyan National Army of the management of the two oil terminals in the east of the country to the National Oil Corporation, which has a monopoly on hydrocarbon exports as provided for in resolution 2259 (2015). We also noted with satisfaction Prime Minister Faiez Serraj’s initiatives to ensure a fair and transparent distribution of oil revenues by auditing the transactions of the Libyan Central Bank in Tripoli and Al Bayda. Those measures, which are the result of the transparent and inclusive management of hydrocarbon resources — the subject of tensions among the warring parties — have helped to improve the security situation in the oil crescent region. However, the resumption of fighting in Tripoli among armed groups that had nevertheless committed themselves to join the process initiated by the Government of National Accord for ending the crisis dramatically reminds us of the precariousness of the overall security situation in Libya. The actions of those armed factions is likely to undermine the efforts of the international community to promote reconciliation among Libyans. Côte d’Ivoire therefore calls on rival armed factions in Derna to put an end to the clashes and allow unimpeded and safe access for humanitarian assistance to thousands of suffering Libyans in the city. We call on all the parties concerned to strictly respect the ceasefire and curfew decreed in Tripoli, in order to preserve the gains of the overall post-crisis process. Côte d’Ivoire notes with deep concern the persistence of the smuggling of migrants and the gross violations of human rights in detention centres. We echo the Secretary-General’s call for the closure of those centres and for respect for the rights of detainees. We deplore the deliberate administrative burdens that prevent UNSMIL and humanitarian personnel from accessing the centres. Those obstacles do little to ensure respect for the rights of detainees or to improve their conditions of detention. My country also welcomes the Council’s unity of action, which led to the imposition of sanctions on 7 June on six individuals involved in human trafficking in Libya. Côte d’Ivoire would like to reaffirm its conviction that there will be no lasting peace and stability in Libya without accountability. We therefore urges the international community to assist the Libyan authorities in identifying and bringing to justice before the competent international courts those found guilty of trafficking in human beings and of serious human rights violations. Côte d’Ivoire notes with regret that little progress has been made in implementing the commitments made by the Libyan parties at the conference held in Paris on 29 May to hold legislative and presidential elections on 10 December. The draft electoral laws for a referendum on a draft constitution, prepared by the Constituent Assembly, have not yet been adopted by the House of Representatives, although the Libyan parties committed themselves to organizing the referendum at the meeting of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya that took place in Dakar from 11 to 13 May. In that regard, my delegation would like to commend the efforts of French diplomacy, which organized a meeting on 23 July among the four Libyan representatives who endorsed the Paris agreement, during which they renewed their support for the holding of the elections on 10 December and the reunification of the country’s institutions. Côte d’Ivoire also commends the work of the High National Electoral Commission and encourages all efforts to respect the electoral calendar. We urge the Libyan parties and the international community to work to improve the security situation, which is essential for the holding of democratic, credible and peaceful elections, as mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report. In conclusion, I would like to extend my delegation’s congratulations to Mr. Salamé and all UNSMIL staff for the quality of their work in an extremely challenging environment. To Ms. Stephanie Williams, the new Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in Libya, we wish every success in her new position.

I would also like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé for his sobering, but always clear, assessment of the volatile situation in Libya and, more important, for his successful efforts to halt the most recent escalation of violence. I will focus my statement on the security situation in Tripoli, its connection to the political process and the humanitarian situation for the civilian population. First, we are deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Tripoli last week, which resulted in many civilian causalities, including children among the dead and injured. We join the Secretary-General and others in condemning all violence and indiscriminate shelling by armed groups. Those acts constitute violations of international humanitarian law and violations or abuses of international human rights law. The ceasefire brokered by the United Nations must now be actively supported. We urge all parties to respect and implement the agreement, including to end all hostilities, protect civilians and re-open the Mitiga airport. Safe and unhindered humanitarian access must also be ensured, and those civilians who wish to leave must be allowed to do so. Countries with influence over the parties must ensure that they deliver on their commitments, and those groups that did not attend the mediation meeting yesterday should be urged to join the ceasefire agreement immediately. We remind those who threaten peace and stability in Libya that they will be held accountable. We remain open to exploring the use of the sanctions instrument in that regard. The continued flow of illegal arms risks fuelling the escalation of violence and increases the suffering of the civilian population. As Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, I therefore call on all Member States to honour their obligations under the relevant resolutions and fully implement the sanctions, including the arms embargo. Secondly, recent developments demonstrate the lack of commitment and progress by some towards a political solution, as well as the dangers of the continued security vacuum. Actors that benefit from instability and the status quo are actively hindering the political process. That cannot be accepted and must be countered. We now hope that the ceasefire agreement can be built upon to further the broader political process. Efforts to provide the conditions needed for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections, which are crucial for the democratic process in the country, must be stepped up. In that regard, we call on the House of Representatives, as others have done, to honour its commitment to help ensure a legal basis for elections. We encourage the Special Representative of the Secretary- General to push ahead and exhaust all legal avenues and options to move the political process forward. Efforts to promote transparency, accountability and unity of the financial institutions are also an important part of that. The Special Representative set that out extensively and clearly again today. The Council must stand fully behind the Special Representative in those important endeavours. A sustainable political process in Libya requires the full and equal participation of women. To that end, we encourage the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) with networks of politically active Libyan women, with the aim to promote the nomination of women for the elections. Another meeting of the Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security will be convened on Libya this fall to follow up on how the Council can best support those efforts. Thirdly, we welcome UNSMIL’s reporting on international humanitarian law and human rights. The dire situation in Libya’s detention facilities, mentioned by many today, including its migrant detention centres and prisons, continues to be of deep concern. The reports on arbitrary detention, torture and sexual and gender- based violence — for instance, in Mitiga, Zuwarah, Abu Salim and eastern Libya — are unacceptable. Such violations and abuses must immediately come to an end. Humanitarian access must be ensured and violations must be investigated, including of alleged summary executions, and those responsible for such crimes must be held to account. The Libyan authorities must also fully implement the human rights due diligence policy and ensure proper vetting processes. Now is a decisive moment for Libya. The Security Council and the broader international community must rally behind the Special Representative, support the urgent implementation of the United Nations action plan and respect the leading role of the United Nations in the mediation efforts. It is crucial that we continue to stand united in our support. We therefore support the issuance of a press statement, as suggested by the representative of the United Kingdom today, to refelct the unity of the Security Council and its support for the efforts of the Special Representative.

I join others in thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Salamé, and Ambassador Skoog for their informative briefings. Seven years ago, the Libyan people initiated change. There was hope — hope for a prosperous, safe and democratic future for Libya. However, the past years have shown the fragility of the situation and the many impediments to real progress towards that aspired future for Libya. That was confirmed once more today by Special Representative Salamé in his sobering briefing. Because of the many challenges, and despite spoilers who prevent smooth progress, we need to remain united in supporting United Nations-led efforts in Libya. We need to do that for the Libyan people, because they have had enough of the political crisis and the uncertain and unsafe conditions of daily life. In that regard, the current situation in Tripoli, where militias have been fighting at the cost of civilians, is especially concerning. We urge all sides to continue to cooperate with the United Nations and fully adhere to the ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. Differences need to be settled through peaceful dialogue, and the security situation has to improve, as a prerequisite for progress on other tracks as well. I will focus on three elements in more detail: ending the political crisis; the economic situation and the need for transparency and coordinating international efforts; and the humanitarian and human rights situation. On the need for progress on the political process, the Kingdom of the Netherlands recognizes Libya’s extremely complex political and security situation. That serves to highlight the need for an inclusive Libyan- owned and Libyan-led political process. Therefore, we confirm our full support for the efforts of Mr. Salamé and his team to that end. That important works needs to continue, including the full implementation of the United Nations action plan. Libya needs a democratic political transition that fosters peace and stability. New elections should be held, if the right conditions are met. Technical, legislative, political and security conditions have to be in place for elections to be credible, peaceful and inclusive. Moreover, the meaningful participation of women as voters and as candidates is crucial. The elected institutions of Libya should work constructively on a new constitutional framework and inclusive Government, and political spoilers should be held accountable for their actions. Secondly, on the economic situation and the need for increased transparency, the present state of the economy contributes negatively to the complexity of the political situation. There are parties benefiting from maintaining the status quo, while the population and country as a whole struggle. Businesses, services and households cannot function normally with only a few hours of electricity a day. The economic crisis, including the depreciation of the national currency, price hikes and a liquidity crisis, has a devastating effect on the livelihoods of Libyan citizens. Therefore, more efforts are needed to improve Libya’s economy. The financial management of the country needs urgent repair. That includes establishing transparency in Libya’s economic and financial institutions and the unification of the Central Bank. We therefore thank the Special Representative and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for their timely response to the Security Council’s request for financial review and audit options. The Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to support efforts to broaden transparency on a multilateral and bilateral basis. We value the role of UNSMIL in that regard. My third, and final, point is on the humanitarian and human rights situation. We remain deeply concerned by ongoing serious human rights violations across Libya, as documented in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/780). A few examples are: the high number of civilian casualties due to fighting and violence; migrants and refugees who remain vulnerable to the risk of arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, abduction for ransom and unlawful killings; and the forced eviction of displaced Tawerghan families from the Tariq al-Matar Camp. That serves to underline that we need to establish the rule of law in Libya, and we call on all Libyan parties to respect applicable international humanitarian law and human rights law. Moreover, strengthening donor coordination in the areas of humanitarian aid, security and human rights remains vital. In June, the Council took the courageous step of targeting human traffickers and smugglers through sanctions. Implementing the sanctions measures diligently should remain our priority. Pending criminal investigations into such crimes, the Council should stand ready to consider additional listings, in order to dismantle destabilizing criminal networks that profit from the climate of impunity in Libya and its bordering region. In conclusion, the human rights situation is not some additional aspect of the crisis in Libya; rather, it is the yardstick for progress and how the human rights of all Libyans can be guaranteed. In that light, we welcome the progress made towards the finalization of the United Nations strategic framework for the period 2019-2020 and the launch of the human rights working group, co-chaired by the Ministry of Justice and UNSMIL, under the coordination framework for international assistance.

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ghassan Salamé, for his briefing and Ambassador Skoog for his report, in his capacity as the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya. We strongly support the Special Representative’s continued diplomatic endeavours to facilitate an end to the Libyan crisis. In particular, we highly appreciate his efforts to mediate between the various Libyan actors, which produced a ceasefire agreement signed yesterday to end all hostilities and to protect civilians and civilian facilities. While we welcome the agreement reached under the auspices of the Special Representative, we condemn the recent violence in Tripoli, particularly the indiscriminate shelling — as noted by the Secretary- General in his 2 September statement — by armed groups in neighbourhood areas, which caused civilian deaths and injuries. We express our condolences and solidarity to the people of Libya, particularly to those who lost their loved ones. While the people of Libya, who have suffered a lot, have been raising their united voices in favour of of an end to the protracted transition through political means, the violence in the capital has no justification. It only poses a serious threat to the country’s stability, undermining efforts to fully implement the United Nations action plan. The violence has also jeopardized the safety of all vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, migrants and refugees. We join others in calling on all parties to fully implement the ceasefire agreement by immediately ceasing hostilities and engaging constructively with the Special Representative. While expressing our support for the legitimate authorities of Libya, we underscore that political objectives should be pursued only through dialogue, not violence. All parties should also cooperate with United Nations humanitarian workers to provide aid for all in need, particularly those trapped in the fighting. It is also important to ensure safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to affected areas. The use of violence by armed groups to control State institutions and the widespread violations of human rights with a sense of impunity are major impediments to resolving the multifaceted crisis in Libya. For now, it is obvious that halting the violence and restoring calm to Tripoli should be the priority. At the same time, we underline that the full and timely implementation of the United Nations action plan remains the only way to find a long-term and comprehensive solution to the violence in Libya. We reiterate that only a comprehensive, Libyan-led and -owned political process facilitated by the United Nations can return Libya to the path of peace and stability. While it is critical to hold elections according to the United Nations action plan, we concur with the Secretary-General who stresses in his latest report (S/2018/780) on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) that it is equally important that the proper conditions be in place for credible and successful elections. Therefore, all Libyan political actors should honour their commitments to holding peaceful and legitimate elections that are acceptable to all Libyans. Furthermore, all required security, legal and administrative conditions should be fulfilled. Bringing a peaceful end to the transition in Libya will also require unifying armed and police institutions. As the report of the Secretary-General underlines, “[t] here is a clear need to build professional, accountable and unified security institutions throughout the country” (S/2018/780; para. 79), both to ensure the State’s monopoly on the legitimate use of force, as well as to find a sustainable solution to the issue of armed groups. In addition, promoting national reconciliation, as has been repeatedly stated by the African Union, is essential to restoring trust and social bonds among communities. Besides, as the people of Libya have been affirming through the national conference process, addressing economic difficulties and delivering public services by protecting national wealth and improving the distribution of resources remains critical. At this critical juncture, restoring stability to the capital and implementing the United Nations action plan will require the strong commitment and cooperation of all Libyan actors. In that regard, all Libyan actors should engage meaningfully and constructively with the Special Representative to support his continuous and tireless efforts to fully operationalize the United Nations action plan. Neighbouring countries and relevant regional organizations should also continue to coordinate their work in support of the efforts of the United Nations. The Security Council should continue to speak with one voice and extend strong support to Special Representative Salamé. The Council should also provide backing to UNSMIL, which has been continuously and gradually increasing its presence in Tripoli and elsewhere in Libya. While UNSMIL should continue to intensify its engagement as security conditions allow, we appreciate its efforts thus far under the leadership of the Special Representative in support of the country’s endeavours to end its transition. As Libya continues to face multiple challenges, including stabilizing the capital city, we hope that the Council will have a constructive and positive dialogue that will renew the UNSMIL mandate and enable it to continue to play a key role in realizing the legitimate aspirations of all Libyans.

We welcome the briefing of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Mr. Ghassan Salamé. We reiterate our full support for his ongoing efforts. We also welcome Ambassador Olof Skoog’s briefing on the activities carried out by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. Bolivia expresses its deep concern at the continued escalation of violence during the reporting period throughout Libyan territory, particularly in the city of Tripoli, which saw the indiscriminate use of rockets, mortars and explosive ordnance by armed groups in civilian areas. According to reports of various United Nations agencies, such attacks significantly damaged schools, mosques and private residences, as well as hospitals and medical centres, and in recent weeks alone have been responsible for at least 69 deaths, including women and children. We remind all concerned parties and actors that, in the framework of international humanitarian law, they are obligated to ensure the security and physical integrity of civilians and civilian areas and infrastructure. They are also responsible for applying the principles of distinction and proportionality. Otherwise, these deliberate attacks could be construed as war crimes, which would then fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for their investigation and judgment. We therefore ask them to join and respect the de-escalation and ceasefire efforts promoted by the Special Representative. Moreover, we are alarmed by reports of widespread violations of the human rights of the 8,000 refugees and migrants confined to detention centres operated by the Government and those under the control of armed groups. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/780) attests to the violation of the rights of these people, who are detained indefinitely in inadequate conditions and subjected to degrading treatment, torture, forced labour, sexual violence and the denial of medical aid. This terrible situation is compounded by the crisis in the Mediterranean Sea, where in July and August 255 immigrants perished. That figure increases this year’s fatalities to more than 1,500 people. That reality highlights the urgent necessity of addressing the situation in a cross-cutting and permanent manner. We therefore call on the parties to prevent such abuses of the rights of migrants and refugees, and we remind them to fulfil their obligations under international law. We urgently call upon Libyan authorities to launch the necessary investigations to prevent impunity for such atrocities. The acts of violence and the increase in clashes during the reporting period undoubtedly threaten the political process and the safety of the population. As such, my delegation reiterates the importance of the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement in order to definitively put an end to the transition period. In this regard, and bearing in mind the commitment undertaken by the parties to hold parliamentary and presidential elections by the end of this year, it is imperative to move forward with the necessary consultations on the new Constitution and to develop the necessary legislation establishing in a clear and concrete way the elements and requirements for proceeding with this process. We therefore call on the parties and on local actors to refrain from confrontational rhetoric that may weaken or undermine these efforts and, on the contrary, to commit unconditionally to engaging in dialogue and implementing the Libyan Political Agreement. At the same time, with regard to efforts to support and assist the strengthening of the Libyan political process and the action plan supported by the Special Representative, we underscore the efforts of the African Union and of countries such as Egypt, Algeria , Tunisia and Senegal, among others. We would also like to highlight the activities of the United Nations Mine Action Service to assist and support the Libyan authorities in their efforts to monitor the flow of arms, munitions and explosives, as well as technical assistance to identify and eliminate explosive remnants of war — including, for example, the destruction of 200 tonnes of explosives in the city of Misrata — to guarantee the security of humanitarian assistance and the dignified return of internally displaced individuals. My delegation reiterates that there can be no military solution to this conflict, which is why we call on all parties to abide by all of the resolutions adopted by the Security Council, in particular resolution 2259 (2015) and presidential statement S/PRST/2017/26 of 14 December 2017, and to join efforts under way to pursue ongoing dialogue to pave the way for a peaceful, orderly and inclusive political transition that will meet the interests of the Libyan people and enable them freely and consensually to define their future. In conclusion, it is important to reiterate and keep in mind that the impact of the Libyan conflict on security in the region is a direct consequence of interventionist practice and regime-change policies that have had a collateral impact in the Sahel, unleashing an upsurge in chaos, terrorism and militarization, whose tragic results reverberate to this very day.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. We would like to thank Special Representative Salamé for his sobering briefing today. The key conclusion from today’s meeting is that he has the full support of the Security Council for his work. We are united behind him. The recent escalating violence in Tripoli continues to undermine an already fragile Libya. The Libyan people deserve peace and security. We welcome yesterday’s announcement by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) that a cessation of hostilities had been reached. The United States stands fully with Libya as UNSMIL continues its mediation efforts, and we call on all Libyan parties to refrain from any action that could undermine the ceasefire and setback Libyan efforts to advance the political process. Any attempt to weaken Libyan authorities and hamper the course of the United Nations-facilitated political process is totally unacceptable, as we reiterated with our partners from France, Italy and the United Kingdom yesterday and this past weekend. Since the revolution, seven years ago, the Libyan people have been asking for things that any of us would want. They want an end to the fighting. They want to see basic services, like electricity and water, switched back on. They want to see Libya’s oil wealth invested for the benefit of the people. They want the dignity of living in a State that respects their rights after decades of tyranny. The sad truth is that a small number of political spoilers, in some cases backed by militias, block this vision. Looking out for their own narrow interests, they undermine the United Nations’ hard work to get dialogue under way. This has to end. There should be no military path to power in Libya. If the violence gets worse, the only winners will be terrorists and criminals. More fighting plays into the hands of human traffickers, who are committing unspeakable abuses as they funnel desperate people onto dangerous journeys towards Europe. A different path for Libya is possible. A handful of political spoilers should not be permitted to hold this process hostage. All of us, especially our European partners, Libya’s neighbours and countries of the region, need to say “enough is enough”. We need to push Libya’s different factions to enter into actual negotiations. As the recent instability in Tripoli clearly demonstrated, we need a realistic road map for Libya to move towards secure, credible and inclusive elections as soon as possible, rooted in an inclusive constitutional process. It is obvious from today’s discussions that we are all impatient to see progress but imposing false deadlines will backfire and could lead to even worse divisions inside Libya. We look to UNSMIL to guide the international community towards an understanding of what that realistic road map entails. The Government of National Accord is a steadfast partner of the United States and we commend its efforts throughout this challenging period. The Government of National Accord shares our goal of a more secure and stable Libya that will be a partner in international efforts to fight terrorism. We fully endorse UNSMIL’s central role in support of the Government of National Accord’s economic reform agenda to help address fiscal transparency and equitable distribution of resources across Libya for all Libyans. We were pleased that the Security Council was able to designate six migrant-smugglers earlier this year for their abuses in Libya. This was the first time that we have ever used sanctions to respond to migrant trafficking. We remain deeply concerned about the welfare of these migrants and will also keep up our efforts to ensure that criminal gangs involved in such activity cannot operate with impunity. Despite all of these challenges, one thing has not changed in Libya — that is the potential of the Libyan people and their keen desire to create a better country for themselves. I would like to share the story of Fatima Nasser, a 21-year old living in the southern city of Seba. Fatima is an entrepreneur who realized that her hometown had an amazing untapped resource — not oil, but food. Women across the city were at home preparing superb dishes in their kitchens. The food was so good Fatima thought that people would be willing to pay for it. She created an app that links customers with these at-home chefs. Women are now starting to earn income from their homes and the Libyan public is enjoying purchases of home-cooked meals. The app is taking off. Fatima is launching her service and Libya’s largest cities very soon. Silicon Valley should have an eye on people like Fatima. The point is that Libyans are ready to build a brighter future. Our responsibility is to help them get there. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Libya.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate your country, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council for this month. I also express my appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), contained in document S/2018/780. I also thank Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, for his briefing on the latest political, economic and security developments in my country. I also thank His Excellency Ambassador Olof Skoog for his briefing as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. The latest bloody events in the suburbs of the capital Tripoli, which have been condemned by my Government and the international community, illustrate the scale of the security problems in Libya. They have undoubtedly demonstrated that local and international parties harbour ill intentions. They seek to maintain the status quo in Libya and to undermine any efforts to achieve peace. Whenever Libyans have felt that they are close to finding a solution to their protracted crisis, they are faced with contrived conflicts and problems leading to armed violence that subjects civilian lives and property to the most terrible dangers and damages. In that regard, I would like to recall that the first Security Council resolution pertaining to the Libyan issue, adopted in 2011 — resolution 1970 (2011) — was on the protection of civilians, who unfortunately are still suffering from the senseless and irresponsible use of all kinds of weapons in densely populated areas by parties that seek to obstruct the establishment of State institutions that protect the nation and the citizens. In an environment where the language of arms prevails, it is hard for any Government in the world to undertake its tasks. Hence, it is almost impossible for State institutions to function. That is why the process of disarmament in my country must be at the top of the priority list. My Government stresses that the United Nations, especially the Security Council, must implement serious, swift and robust programmes to disarm lawless armed groups. Each case must be dealt with separately through programmes and plans prepared by specialized United Nations entities. Those entities have made great achievements in many countries experiencing through situations similar to the one in my country. We ask the Council to call upon all the Libyan parties to understand that any military action to rule the country is unacceptable to Libyans and the international community. They should be urged to step up their efforts to overcome this crisis. It is also important to complete the constitutional process paving the way to holding free and fair general elections that lead to the establishment of elected constitutional institutions, while achieving stability, development and prosperity for the Libyan people. In that regard, my country’s delegation would like to thank UNSMIL for the efforts undertaken to tackle the security problem that the city of Tripoli is suffering from these days. Its efforts were successful, and a ceasefire agreement was signed on Tuesday, 4 September. We hope that all parties will observe it. The dire economic situation in Libya is also a result of the deteriorating security situation and the abhorrent interference by some influential actors, corrupt people and weapon users in the work of the State’s economic institutions, especially the banking sector. That of course had a severe adverse effect on the living conditions of the Libyan people. It was the reason for low liquidity and lack of services. The parties to the Libyan Political Agreement, signed in Skhirat on 17 December 2015, have also not fulfilled their commitments. They have continued to use grotesque practices to avoid meeting those commitments. That has also contributed considerably to the deterioration of the economic situation. My Government is trying to find solutions through clear economic plans. However, we need legislation for that. The Parliament must address the issue in order to alleviate the hardship for the Libyan people. Various United Nations reports and the Public Prosecutor’s office in Libya confirm that Libyans and foreigners are subjected to human rights violations. That is outrageous and unacceptable to all Libyans. We highlight that, while many violations have taken place, they will not stop and their perpetrators will continue to enjoy impunity as long as the security situation does not improve. Legislative bodies should be helped through serious work and full international cooperation with my country. Supporters in other countries of armed groups in Libya must refrain from spreading their venom in my country. International action is needed to achieve stability. That is an absolute necessity for Libya and the international community. We would like to recall that a year has passed since the adoption of the United Nation action plan on Libya in the Security Council, on 20 September 2017. The action plan has not yet been implemented, while various parties are using different excuses and completely disregarding the suffering of the Libyan people. My country’s delegation underscores that the Security Council must be united, bear its responsibilities, call upon all parties to end the political crisis within a set time frame, implement the United Nations action plan and initiate the constitutional arrangements needed for the holding of democratic elections — undertaken and decided upon by Libyan voters. In conclusion, my country’s delegation would like to note that statements and declarations issued here and there will not silence the guns, stop the destruction of public and private property, save the lives of teenagers who are forced to fight or stop human rights violations. The Security Council needs to take decisive action and a serious stance to hold accountable all those who stand in the way of restoring peace, security and tranquillity. The Council must end the plight that has been going on in my country for too long. It is high time to end it and impose severe sanctions on the perpetrators.