S/PV.8540 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2019/470, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2019/380, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 2420 (2018). The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2473 (2019). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote.

The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of resolution 2473 (2019). The Libyan arms embargo remains an important tool of the Council and an integral part of our work to help support the stabilization of Libya. We are concerned by reports of weapons entering Libya and take this opportunity to remind all Member States of their obligations under resolution 1970 (2001). We call on all parties involved in the Libyan crisis to respect the arms embargo and to desist from any actions that could further undermine the prospects for United Nations-facilitated political dialogue. Any arms entering Libya will only escalate the conflict and lessen the prospects for a ceasefire. Respect for the arms embargo is just one part of the solution in Libya, which requires a full political dialogue and reconciliation. We remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Libya. The now protracted and escalating conflict benefits no one and only serves to highlight the fact that there can be no military solution to Libya’s challenges. The United Kingdom continues to call for all those involved in the conflict to commit to an immediate ceasefire, allow humanitarian access and return to political talks. We also reiterate our support for the tireless efforts of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ghassan Salamé and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to facilitate a return to political talks. A United Nations-led political dialogue is the only way, ultimately, to achieve the security and stability that Libyans deserve.

Belgium supports the extension of the arms embargo in Libya. However, it regrets and denounces the systematic violations that are currently being observed. Maintaining the embargo is essential in the light of the ongoing armed violence in Libya. Belgium calls on all actors in the Libyan crisis to respect the embargo, at the risk of contributing further to the deterioration of the situation. Belgium is of the opinion that there can be no military solution in Libya. I echo my British colleague in calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to a process of dialogue, under the auspices of the United Nations. I hope that our Council will speak out as soon as possible.

France welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2473 (2019), renewing for one year the Security Council’s authorization of the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA) in order to effectively enforce the arms embargo on Libya at sea. France remains extremely concerned by the situation in Libya, in particular the ongoing fighting and its potential consequences for the countries of the region. We remain convinced that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis and that only a political process can enable a return to stability in Libya. It is in order to support this political process that France also reiterates its call for the implementation of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. At the same time, the parties to the conflict must commit to the dialogue led by Special Representative of the Secretary- General Ghassan Salamé, for whom France reiterates its full support. In that context, which is undermining the political dynamic and reinforcing instability in the country, respect for the arms embargo is more necessary than ever. Operation SOPHIA continues to play an important role in stabilizing Libya. Its deterrent function limits the violations of the arms embargo and reduces the flow of weapons that continue to cross the seas and have only aggravated the situation since the beginning of the offensive. While the operation’s resources have been temporarily suspended, operation SOPHIA has refocused its efforts and remains active in order to implement the mandate it has been given through its training of the Libyan coast guard and its monitoring of that entity’s activities in order to ensure that they are operationally effective and that human rights are being respected. Its action also allows the Libyan authorities to make their due contribution to the fight against weapons trafficking. Furthermore, the operation is using its aerial resources to collect intelligence and the information that is needed to maintain the arms embargo. Within the European Union, we will continue to contribute to the efforts of operation SOPHIA. To that end, the operation must continue to benefit from its authorization under resolution 2292 (2016), which has been extended today in resolution 2473 (2019), in order to enjoy the legitimacy and means necessary to act appropriately.

South Africa thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of resolution 2420 (2018), on the arms embargo on Libya (S/2019/380). We thank the United Kingdom as penholder for facilitating this process. My delegation remains deeply concerned that the current military operations in Libya are reportedly being reinforced by the transfer of arms into the country, including by sea and by land. We are further concerned by the suspension of the naval assets of the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean, which are crucial to the implementation of the arms embargo resolution on the high seas. Furthermore, we encourage regional cooperation in the implementation of the arms embargo. It has been two months since the crisis started in Libya, without any respect being shown by the parties to the conflict for the Council’s calls for a ceasefire. The worsening security and humanitarian situation in Tripoli is fuelled by the constant supply of arms to that city. South Africa reiterates that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis. It is through a national dialogue process that the conflict can be resolved. As such, we encourage compromise, cooperation and a spirit of reconciliation on the part of all the parties in Libya. We strongly urge Member States to fully implement the arms embargo measures, which are of immediate importance to the protection of civilians and the restoration of security and stability in Libya and the region. Lastly, South Africa wishes to reiterate that sanctions are a tool to advance a political process or facilitate a change in the political process and should not affect the provision of humanitarian assistance. We therefore support the adoption of resolution 2473 (2019) and hope that all Member States will adhere to its implementation.

Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2473 (2019), extending for a further 12 months the authorization to Member States to engage in inspections on the high seas of vessels heading to and leaving Libya, with a view to enforcing the strict enforcement of the arms embargo. The adoption of the resolution comes at the right time, given the alarming and ongoing deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation since 4 April, which has been fuelled in particular by numerous violations of the arms embargo. Respect for the arms embargo undoubtedly represents valuable leverage for ongoing efforts to achieve the ceasefire so long sought by the international community and the Libyan people. That critical ceasefire is in itself an essential precondition for the resumption of negotiations and the political process necessary to overcome the crisis. In that regard, Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the commitment of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ghassan Salamé and reiterates its full support for him. As I have said, respect for the arms embargo provides critical support for the ongoing efforts. While my country welcomes the adoption of resolution 2473 (2019), it remains concerned by the inadequate naval resources available to the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA), which limits it to aerial surveillance, allowing only partial monitoring of vessels off the Libyan coast. I would therefore conclude my statement by calling on the contributing countries to provide, on an immediate basis, fully operational equipment appropriate to the functions of operation SOPHIA, with a view to improving its effectiveness. That would help to break the vicious circle that is prolonging the conflict and its consequent atrocities in Libya.

We very much welcome this renewal of the arms embargo on Libya for another 12 months through the adoption of resolution 2473 (2019), and call on the Council to intensify its efforts to halt all breaches of the arms embargo in order to stem the weapons flow into Libya. Through its inspection and investigation activities, the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean has made an important contribution against illicit arms trafficking and continues to contribute through its ongoing activities. In today’s environment in Libya, the strict implementation of the arms embargo is more important than ever. The ongoing and flagrant violations of the arms embargo must not be accepted by the international community. We therefore very much support the call of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé on all actors to strictly implement the arms embargo. The influx of weapons contributes to the escalation of the conflict and leads to more victims and destruction in Libya, as Special Representative Salamé pointed out in his recent briefing to the Security Council. Furthermore, the seemingly unlimited arms supply fuels the erroneous belief in a military solution to the conflict and contributes to the unwillingness of actors on the ground to agree on a ceasefire and resume the political process, as proposed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and supported by the vast majority of members of the international community. The violations of the arms embargo therefore constitute a key impediment to a political solution, and the unhindered influx of weapons also carries the risk of a further destabilization of the neighbouring countries and the whole region. The European Union, as a direct neighbour, cannot and will not accept this. Lastly, the open breaches of the arms embargo imposed by this very Council diminish the credibility of the United Nations and the Security Council itself. It is time to redouble our efforts to assume our responsibility and act in close cooperation with Special Representative Salamé to find ways to finally implement the arms embargo effectively.

Indonesia welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2473 (2019). Indonesia calls for the cessation of hostilities in Libya. We reiterate the call issued by the Security Council on 10 May for all parties to commit to a ceasefire and de-escalation and to returning to United Nations political mediation. We also reiterate that lasting peace and stability in Libya will come only through a political solution. We welcome the efforts made by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ghassan Salamé to restore a unified international position on Libya so as to end its current crisis. The Council has again and again shown its support for the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and today Indonesia would like to reaffirm our continued support for their work. We call on all partners, including regional organizations, to continue their support and work in pursuing peace in Libya. Indonesia calls for the protection of civilians in Tripoli. We are saddened by the increasing number of civilian casualties in this crisis. Nevertheless, we are also concerned for the safety of United Nations personnel and of the medical and humanitarian workers on the ground. It is important for all parties to respect international humanitarian law and human rights, and not target civilians and humanitarian workers. Efforts should be made to help those who are in need, and those efforts should be given a chance to reach them in order to save innocent lives. In conclusion, Indonesia voted in favour of the resolution in order to show the unity of the Council and contribute to efforts to silence the guns in Libya. A military solution is not an option; political dialogue is the only way. We hope that resolution 2473 (2019), on the arms embargo, will lead to a more political process.