S/PV.8611 Security Council

As this is the first public meeting of the Security Council for the month of September, I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Council, to pay tribute to Her Excellency Ms. Joanna Wronecka, Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations, for her service in the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. I am sure I speak for all the members of the Council in expressing our deep appreciation to Ambassador Wronecka and her team for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

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 the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and Ms. Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach of Lawyers for Justice in Libya. Mr. Salamé is joining the meeting via video- teleconference 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/2019/682, 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; Ambassador Juergen Schulz, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya; and Ms. Mohamed. I now give the floor to Mr. Salamé. Mr. Salamé: Allow me to congratulate the Russian Federation on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I am grateful for the Council’s expression of support on the occasion of the emergency meeting held on 10 August (see S/PV.8595), the day of the bombing in Benghazi that killed three United Nations staff members. I would like to pay tribute to our colleagues and friends, Clive Peck, Hussein Abdalla Mahmoud El-Hadar and Seniloli Tabuatausole, whose lives were cut short by that cowardly attack. Clive and “Tabs”, as Mr. Tabuatausole was known, travelled the world as United Nations security personnel, enabling the vital work of peacemaking and delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance. Hussein had been with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for nearly six years and was due to be married this month. As United Nations staff members, their sacrifice for the benefit of Libya and all Libyans will not be forgotten. I also want to pay tribute to our two staff members who are still recovering from serious injuries and the eight other injured Libyan civilians. In parallel to the United Nations internal inquiry into the incident, we are requesting the Libyan authorities to cooperate with us in the investigation and to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators. I would like to call upon Member States to provide the United Nations with any information they might have on this horrific attack. The United Nations will remain in Libya. Of course, we will work to mitigate further risk to our personnel and operations. But the tragic irony is that, the worse the situation on the ground becomes, the greater the need for our presence, mediation efforts and provision of humanitarian assistance. The Benghazi hub remains open, and the limited number of United Nations staff members continues to operate from there. A longer- term position concerning the hub will be taken only once a fuller assessment of the security situation in the city and associated risks has been made. Today marks five months to the day since General Haftar launched his offensive to seize control of Tripoli, halting an active and promising political process and returning the country to renewed conflict. Since 4 April, the conflict has spread geographically and has exacted a heavy toll on civilians and those fighting. To date, more than 100 civilians have been killed and over 300 injured and 120,000 civilians have been displaced. There are no confirmed figures on the total number of fighters who have died so far but, anecdotally, the figure appears to be in the low thousands. The blood of yet another generation of young Libyan men is being spilled on the battlefield, when their skills could be better used to rebuild their country. I would like to draw the Council’s attention to the shelling of airports. A disaster was closely averted last Sunday, when a plane full of pilgrims returning from Mecca was miraculously not hit by a series of shells fired at Mitiga airport. Seven people were injured. I would ask for the Council’s strong support in condemning such indiscriminate shelling, which threatens the lives of substantial numbers of civilians. The United Nations has consistently responded to requests by the Government of National Accord that we inspect sites that have been subjected to attacks. We have conducted multiple visits to Mitiga airport and one to Zuwara airport and other civilian sites, including the detention centre in Tajura, which have been subjected to air strikes or drone attacks or have been hit by various projectiles since 4 April. Reports from all those visits are shared with the Panel of Experts and, when necessary, with the International Criminal Court. The situation in the southern town of Murzuq remains grave. More than 100 people have been killed and many more injured in the fighting between the Tebu and Ahali communities. That includes the precision air strikes on 4 August targeting a gathering of Tebu representatives, in which more than 40 people were killed. Thousands have been displaced as homes and businesses have been looted and burned. The local conflict risks taking on a national dimension as each party mobilizes national actors behind them. Elders from outside Murzuq have tried to mediate an end to the violence but, unfortunately, without success. On 24 and 25 August, following a number of preparatory meetings, I convened separate sessions with Ahali and Tebu representatives to discuss ending the violence and the return of the displaced and to initiate a discussion on how the roots of grievances could be addressed to prevent future tensions from again turning into serious conflicts. United Nations humanitarian agencies have delivered assistance to 1,500 families affected by the violence in Murzuq. Re-establishing local civilian peace is an integral part of our mission. It is particularly true in the south, where the events in Murzuq might spill over to other cities where different tribes and ethnic groups have lived in peace until recently. Local peace also needs to be built on stable local authorities. I remain concerned about the attempts of the unrecognized eastern Government to assert control over local municipalities. The efforts of the interim Government to conduct parallel municipal elections or establish appointed municipal steering committees, including in municipalities where elected councils are already in place, exacerbate local conflict and fragment local Government structures. That is unfortunate, given that local Governments are the most resilient institutions and are expected to play a crucial role in reconciliation, the delivery of services and reconstruction. Libyans broadly agree on the need for further decentralization. Kidnappings and enforced disappearance continue across the country. I am very disappointed to report that there has been no news regarding the fate of House of Representatives member Siham Sergewa since she was abducted from her home in Benghazi on 17 July. I reiterate the call on the authorities in the east to investigate the enforced disappearance of Ms. Sergewa and make the findings known. The authorities are responsible for the safety and security of the people under their territorial control. They must take all the necessary steps to determine her whereabouts. The voices of Libya’s elected representatives cannot be allowed to be quashed through intimidation or enforced disappearance. I welcome the continued and loud support of the many Member States demanding Ms. Sergewa’s swift return. I reiterate the absolute need for those found responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law to be held accountable before the competent bodies. Following my call for the gradual and progressive closure of all detention centres holding migrants and refugees, on 1 August the Minister of the Interior ordered the closure of three of those centres. The United Nations submitted a contingency plan to the Government of National Accord on alternative options to detention. That plan includes release into urban settings with the provision of assistance, the provision of necessary health care, access to the labour market and the identification of durable solutions outside Libya. Those centres need to be closed through a gradual and deliberate process in which the relevant United Nations agencies are provided the necessary means to assist that vulnerable population. Despite those calls and Government claims to have shuttered the Tajura detention centre — which was the site of the deadly air strike in July — migrants continue to be sent there. Migrants and refugees continue to be detained in compounds controlled by armed groups, thereby placing them in extreme danger. Nearly 500 of those who escaped the July attack on the Tajura detention centre spontaneously entered the gathering and departure facility, which is managed by the department for combating illegal migration. With more than 1,000 refugees, the infrastructure in the gathering and departure facility is overstretched and the humanitarian situation in the facility is deteriorating rapidly. Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers were intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard in recent weeks. Some are now being freed, while others are being handed over to detention centres. We know of at least three cases where the occupants of the boats were immediately freed when they landed on Libyan territory. UNSMIL continued to receive reports of the indefinite arbitrary detention of migrants and refugees, extortion and beatings, trafficking and inhumane detention conditions, including severe overcrowding and shortages of food and water. Urgent funding for the 2019 humanitarian response plan is necessary to allow us to continue to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable in Libya, including migrants. It is notable that, in response to my 29 July call for a truce, there was an explicit and positive response by the Government of National Accord, as well as a positive, although unilateral and conditioned response, from General Haftar. As a result of the truce, there was a substantial reduction in violence along the main fronts in southern Tripoli and elsewhere. There were certainly some violations but, broadly speaking, the truce held for the duration of the Eid Al-Adha festivities. Despite the subsequent relapse of violence, the principle has been established that both parties can commit to a prolonged truce and, without a doubt, the wide and public support of the international community played an important role in the lull in the fighting. We are working to build on the Eid Al-Adha truce through confidence-building measures to establish a deeper and more prolonged ceasefire. When such a ceasefire takes place, it will be necessary that it be sufficiently robust to enable stability for the benefit of Libyans and the return to the political process. In that regard, I would encourage the Council to consider adding a provision to the Mission’s mandate to enable scalable ceasefire support for whatever form of further truce or cessation of hostilities is agreed between the parties. The violence in Libya is exacerbated by the supply of additional arms, ammunition and war material into the country. Violations of the arms embargo have been both routine and often blatant on the part of both of the main parties to the conflict and their respective sponsor member States. The Panel of Experts is reportedly investigating more than 40 cases of varying magnitude, despite non-cooperation on the part of most of the perpetrator member States. It is sadly true to say that the arms embargo has been ineffective since 4 April and that there have been no interdictions or searches conducted at sea, despite such activities being authorized by resolution 2473 (2019). The reported recent arrival of thousands of mercenaries into the country threatens the further extension and escalation of the conflict. We continue to mobilize national and international support for a further cessation of hostilities and renewed dialogue. After a long tour in the eastern part of the country, my political deputy recently visited Misrata as part of our engagement with communities across Libya. As combat fatigue has become more prevalent on the ground, we are working to build confidence between the parties. Despite the bellicose rhetoric and strong polarization in the country, there is popular support for an end to the violence, including among the actual fighters. In fact, fighters are sometimes more sensitive to the idea of ending the conflict than some politicians. Confidence-building measures among the different groups engaged in the conflict include the exchange of prisoners, exchanges of mortal remains, family visits to prisoners and, in some cases, phone calls to establish proof of life. In parallel, I have started an intensive campaign with international stakeholders in order to reach consensus on holding an international meeting of concerned parties that would contribute — through an unequivocal message — to ending the conflict and resuming the political process. To support that goal, I visited Germany, Malta, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Tunisia. Two days ago, I had lengthy and constructive discussions with leading officials in Cairo. I intend to continue my tour in the days ahead, starting with the Arab Maghreb. I am particularly grateful for the strong message delivered by the Group of Seven major Powers calling for an international conference bringing together all the stakeholders and regional actors relevant to the conflict in Libya, as well as for the recognition that only a political solution can ensure Libya’s stability. It remains abundantly clear that, without the commitment of key external actors engaged in Libya, the conflict will continue. The international conference is the second step in my three-point initiative. We would like the international community to use that meeting to send a strong message on the need to respect the arms embargo, to commit to non-interference in Libyan affairs, to address the main causes of conflict, as formulated by the Libyans themselves, and to emphasize its clear and active support for whatever political formula the Libyans agree to. An international meeting, with the active support of our partners from the regional organizations concerned, therefore remains a sine qua non to gain the commitment of the main external stakeholders necessary to ending the conflict and resuming a Libyan-owned political process. Many Libyans feel abandoned by part of the international community and exploited by others. Without the unequivocal support of the Council and the broader international community for an immediate end to the Libyan conflict, I believe that we are faced with two highly unpalatable scenarios. One scenario is a persistent and protracted low- intensity conflict that will see continued fratricide among the Libyans, the immiseration of the population, the exposure of the vulnerable migrant and refugee community to further depredations, the further destruction of the country’s already- battered infrastructure and a growing transnational terrorist threat. An equally unsatisfactory scenario is a doubling down of military support for one side or the other by their external patrons, resulting in a sharp escalation that will assuredly plunge the entire region into chaos. The idea that war should be given a chance and that a military solution is at all possible is quite simply a chimera. I believe that the Council is capable of more, and I also believe that the Libyans deserve better.

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

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 30 July to 4 September 2019, during which time the Committee held a formal meeting and conducted additional work through the written silence procedure. At the formal meeting held on 30 August 2019, which was organized in follow-up to a recommendation contained in the interim report of the Panel of Experts, the Committee held a discussion with 22 invited Member States on sanctions implementation. The Panel of Experts also briefed the participants about the different sanctions measures. In their interventions, Committee members and invited Member States addressed various aspects of the sanctions regime, emphasizing, in particular, respect for the arms embargo. Invited Member States also expressed their commitment to cooperating with the Committee and with the Panel of Experts. I intend to propose follow-up action to Committee members on some of the ideas and proposals that were raised during the meeting. With respect to the arms embargo, the Committee responded to a request for guidance from the Republic of Korea. The Committee also received an update from the Panel of Experts containing a preliminary case study on air strikes in Murzuq on 5 August. In connection with the assets freeze, the Committee received an exemption notification under paragraph 19 (a) of resolution 1970 (2011), submitted by the United Kingdom in relation to the legal expenses of Ms. Aisha Al-Qadhafi, a listed individual. No negative decision was taken. The Committee further received an exemption request, under paragraph 19 (b) of resolution 1970 (2011), submitted by Switzerland, for the purpose of allowing a subsidiary of the Libyan Africa Investment Portfolio, a listed entity, to cover expenses arising from a national court ruling. The Committee is seeking further information from Libya in relation to that exemption request. The Committee also responded to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the applicability of the assets freeze measure to a particular entity. With regard to the travel ban, the Committee approved, with modified travel dates, an exemption request pursuant to paragraph 16 (a) of resolution 1970 (2011) from Ms. Aisha Al-Qadhafi. The Committee was subsequently informed by Oman, Ms. Al-Qadhafi’s State of residence, that she would not be travelling. Furthermore, the Committee received a response from Egypt on the circumstances surrounding the travel of Mr. Abu Zayd Umar Dorda, a listed individual, from Libya to Egypt through Tunisia on 17 February. The Committee wrote to Libya in connection with measures aimed at preventing illicit exports of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya. The letter was in follow-up to a recommendation contained in the interim report of the Panel of Experts and asked to activate the oil focal point and provide his contact details so that the Committee can correspond with him directly. We would also like to recall that, in my previous report to the Security Council (see S/PV.8588), I informed the Council that the Committee was considering proposals submitted by a Member State for the designation of three individuals involved in the criminal network that illicitly exploits crude oil and other natural resources in Libya. In that regard, the Committee has sought additional information from the designating Member State. The Committee received one implementation report during the reporting period — from the Kingdom of the Netherlands — submitted pursuant to paragraph 12 of resolution 2441 (2018). Finally, in an update on 5 August, the Secretariat informed the Committee that the Tunisian authorities had not yet terminated the legal proceedings, as requested by the Secretariat, against Mr. Moncef Kartas, a member of the Panel of Experts, and that his belongings, including a phone, laptop and documents, had also not been returned. The Committee continues to follow the case, while recalling paragraph 16 of resolution 2441 (2018), which “urges all States ... to cooperate fully with the Committee and the Panel”, as well as the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

I thank Ambassador Schulz for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Mohamed. Ms. Mohamed: My name is Marwa Mohamed. I am a Libyan human rights defender who has been working on peace and justice in Libya for over 10 years. Today I speak in my capacity as Head of Advocacy and Outreach at Lawyers for Justice in Libya. We are a Libyan organization registered in the United Kingdom that is working on, and in, Libya to promote human rights, the rule of law and access to justice. The 2011 uprising brought Libyans, for the first time, a profound sense of belonging and ownership over our collective future. Civil society flourished and began to take many shapes and forms. But this growing movement was disrupted by increased intimidation and violence. The assassination of women’s rights advocate Salwa Bugaighis in 2014, who was shot dead in her home, was a turning point. From that moment on, civil society began to withdraw from the public space, political leadership and activism. The recent abduction and disappearance of parliamentarian Siham Sergewa is a stark illustration of how complete impunity for attacks and intimidation of activists — women in particular — has only emboldened perpetrators. Those of us who choose to fight for peace and justice in Libya continue to face repression. I address the Security Council today as a member of Libya’s civil society who is committed to rebuilding the future of our country, one that is based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. That is possible only if we work together. My statement today will focus on three main areas of concern, namely, the gendered impact of the conflict, the widespread use of enforced disappearances and torture, and the targeting of civilians and civilian objects. What happened to Salwa and Siham illustrates a broader pattern of the risks that human rights defenders, in general, and women, in particular, face for their activism in Libya. Since 2014, women human rights defenders have been routinely subjected to gender- based violence and threats, including physical assault, abductions, sexual violence, as well as gender-related slurs and smear campaigns designed to undermine us and undercut the legitimacy of our work. Such attacks have also increased on social media. The threat of reprisals and retaliation for participating in politics or carrying out human rights work, combined with a lack of accountability for such acts or specific steps by the United Nations-backed Government to address these risks, has effectively forced women out of public life. The proliferation of weapons despite the United Nations arms embargo, the breakdown of State institutions, and the general state of lawlessness has had a disproportional impact on Libyan women’s security and freedom of movement. Women living in conflict- affected areas are vulnerable to sexual harassment, rape and abduction. According to 1,300 first-hand interviews conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the majority of migrant and refugee women and girls have been systematically gang-raped by traffickers or have witnessed others taken away to be abused along their journey. Migrant and refugee women, who are held in detention centres run entirely by male guards, are also strip-searched and exposed to sexual violence, including rape. Nevertheless, sexual and gender-based violence, on the whole, remains underreported. The State’s inability to control the activities of armed groups and militias has left women vulnerable, with no accountability for the attacks against them. In the absence of a central State authority, women have had to take their safety into their own hands by adhering to specific dress codes, travelling only with a male guardian or restricting their movements to the daytime. That has resulted in profound limitations on their freedom of movement and their ability to engage fully in public life. Given the gendered impact of the conflict on Libyan women, it is especially critical that they be meaningfully included in all political talks to bring sustainable peace to Libya. The token representation of women or their inclusion at stages when they can have no influence over the outcome undermines the effectiveness of any peace process. Although poorly documented due to fear of reprisals, enforced disappearances have become a widespread pattern across Libya since 2011. The only official numbers from the Ministry of the Interior are from 2017, and they indicate that 257 people disappeared in March and April in Tripoli alone. The figure is likely higher across Libya and over the nine years since the conflict started. Militias routinely abduct individuals from their homes, streets, checkpoints and places of work, holding them in unofficial places of detention with no access to lawyers, their families or judicial oversight — usually subjecting them to torture and other ill-treatment. UNSMIL has reported that some of the disappeared have been held for up to two years. Others have never been seen again. This was most recently illustrated by the enforced disappearance of parliamentarian and women’s rights activist Siham Sergewa, who had expressed political views critical of the offensive of the Libyan National Army (LNA) on Tripoli and had called for the formation of a civilian State. Siham was abducted by armed militias from her home in Benghazi on 17 July. Her fate remains unknown. Siham’s case is one of many. Enforced disappearances are used in Libya to deter any kind of dissent and send a message that there are those above the law who can operate with total impunity. Without accountability, the cycle will continue. Since the LNA’s offensive on Tripoli began, indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian objects have been documented by Lawyers for Justice in Libya, activists on the ground and other international organizations. They include attacks on Mitiga airport and medical personnel and facilities, in violation of international humanitarian law, which may amount to war crimes. According to the World Health Organization, 106 civilians have been killed, 294 injured and more than 10,000 people displaced across Libya since April. Furthermore, according to UNSMIL, as of 15 August, there had been over 37 attacks on health workers and facilities — with 19 hospitals attacked and 11 medical personnel killed, in clear violation of international humanitarian law. Migrant detention centres have also not been spared. An aerial attack on the official migrant and refugee detention centre in Tajura in July left 46 dead and at least 130 wounded. As Secretary-General Guterres himself warns in his latest report (S/2019/682) on the situation, Libya is likely to erupt into a full civil war unless immediate action is taken. It is a test of the Council’s credibility to act now. We therefore call on the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire to end the current conflict and ensure that all civilians are protected from attacks, including sexual and gender-based violence, and to stop the transfer of weapons that are being used to perpetuate the violence. All Member States must uphold and enforce the United Nations embargo on all weapons transfers and sales to Libya. The absence of a clear message from the Security Council has led to an intensified stockpiling of weapons on both sides at an alarming rate. We furthermore call on the Council to demand accountability from all parties to the conflict and call on the International Criminal Court to initiate investigations into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. We call on the Council to protect women human rights defenders. Libyan authorities must ensure an enabling environment for all women, including women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and political leaders. The Council must demand that Libyan authorities, UNSMIL and all parties to the conflict ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all phases of the peace and reconciliation process. UNSMIL’s active and public support for substantive engagement by women in conflict and post-conflict dialogue would send a clear message that women’s participation and contributions are not only vital, but necessary. In conclusion, while warring parties are fighting for power, it is the Libyan people, the civilians on the ground, who are paying the ultimate price, many with their lives. It is their voices that should guide the Council’s actions in bringing an end to this conflict and restoring peace to Libya.

I thank Ms. Mohamed for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements.

I wish to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and to wish you every success in managing its work for the month of September. We also wish to thank Poland for its distinguished presidency of the Council during the month of August. At the outset, I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Mr. Ghassan Salamé, for his briefing. We assure him of our full support. We also wish to thank His Excellency Ambassador Juergen Schulz, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, for his briefing. We also wish to thank Ms. Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach at Lawyers for Justice in Libya, for her briefing. I wish to focus in my statement on two topics, namely, field and political developments and humanitarian developments. Concerning the former topic, we welcome the commitment of the warring Libyan parties to the first step of Mr. Salamé’s plan, which calls for respecting the humanitarian truce that was initiated on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha Al-Mubarak, which helped to significantly limit acts of violence. We hope that we will be able to build upon it in order to adopt confidence-building measures for a ceasefire. At the same time, we hope that the Libyan parties will tangibly respond to the three-step proposal of the Special Representative, including holding of international and national meetings that would lead to strengthening efforts towards resuming the political process based on dialogue. That would result in ending the institutional division and reaching lasting security and stability as part of the comprehensive democratic process through transparent and credible presidential and parliamentary elections based upon Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi understandings. To achieve that goal, the Security Council must remind all Member States to comply with their commitments according to the relevant Security Council resolutions that established the sanctions regime, foremost of which is arms embargo imposed with regard to Libya. In his briefing, Mr. Salamé regrettably mentioned that there had been non-compliance with some of the sanctions, which have proved ineffective since the outbreak of the conflict in April. Non-compliance with Security Council resolutions will lead to grave consequences, and Libya could not be an active participant in international forums. Emphasis should also be placed on restoring the rule of law throughout the country by strengthening the State and its role in building unified security institutions as well as curbing control by armed groups and their intervention in sovereign institutions. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the information contained in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2019/682) regarding an influx of foreign fighters to Libyan soil and their participation in the ongoing conflict there. That will lead to an increased risk of spreading of terrorist hotbeds and entrenching their destructive activities. The increased attacks recently by the terrorist group Da’esh have clearly demonstrated this growing challenge against the security and stability of Libya and the region. Concerning the humanitarian developments, we have mentioned before that the daily humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Libyan people as a result of increased armed confrontations has reached the most vulnerable, namely, illegal migrants in the detention centres. We express our support for the proposal of the Special Representative to release those migrants while providing them with safe shelters until their asylum applications are ready, or until they receive repatriation support. We appeal to the warring Libyans parties to exercise self-restraint, respect human rights law as well as international humanitarian law and to stop targeting civilians and civilian institutions. They must allow humanitarian agencies and humanitarian workers to safely reach affected areas in order to deliver assistance to those in need.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, and the Russian Federation on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. You can count on our support. We would also like to thank Poland for the way they managed the work of the Council in August. I would like to thank Mr. Ghassan Salamé for his briefing on the situation in Libya. I also thank Ambassador Juergen Schulz, Chair of the Security Council established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, for his briefing on the work of the Committee. And I thank Ms. Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach at Lawyers for Justice in Libya, for sensitizing the Council to the impact of the Libyan conflict on women and ordinary citizens throughout Libya. South Africa commends the Secretary-General and Special Representative Salamé for their tireless efforts to bring together all the Libyan parties and stakeholders with the aim of reaching an agreement on a permanent ceasefire. In that regard, we welcome the Special Representative’s three-step proposal to bring an end to the conflict, as echoed by Ms. Mohamed. Eight years since the start of the Libyan conflict, the country remains deeply divided and on the brink of a civil war. The failure by the Libyan parties to reach an agreement to end the conflict has dire consequences for Libya and the broader region in Africa. Furthermore, the crisis has exacerbated the ongoing migrant crisis. South Africa wishes to echo the sentiments of the African Union Peace and Security Council in stressing “the need for a peaceful and consensual solution to the Libyan crisis, which continues to impact negatively on the security and the stability of neighbouring countries”. I wish to take the opportunity of today’s meeting to focus my intervention on three key issues. First, there can be no military solution to the conflict in Libya. South Africa therefore calls all on parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire and to return to political dialogue. South Africa will continue to support the convening of a Libyan national peace and reconciliation forum, preceded by a national dialogue conference with a view to unifying the people of Libya. In that regard, we commend the role played by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya in supporting those processes. Secondly, my delegation remains convinced that the resolution of the Libyan crisis lies in close consultation and cooperation among the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States. Equally, we call on neighbouring countries and those with influence on the political stakeholders to promote a negotiated settlement. Thirdly, South Africa emphasizes that there should be full implementation of the arms embargo. The arms embargo is important not only to curb the flow of arms into Libya but also to stem the illicit flow of arms into the Sahel region and beyond, which fuels conflicts and causes instability elsewhere on the African continent. South Africa supports the observation of the Secretary-General that the rule of law be restored throughout Libya. That should be accompanied by the full restoration of State control, including a holistic security strategy that is built on professional, accountable and unified security institutions. South Africa wishes to impress on the Council that for as long as there is conflict over Libya’s resources, achieving consensus on a resolution will be difficult. As such, we call for a comprehensive dialogue that includes agreement on resource sharing by all political stakeholders for the sake of reaching a lasting, sustainable peace for all Libyans. De-escalating the Libyan conflict necessitates resolving that long- standing financial dispute. Finally, we wish to urge the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to ensure the inclusion of women in the processes to resolve the crisis, as Ms. Mohamed requested. Women form an important constituency in Libya. As such, their involvement in the formal and informal political processes remains critical. That is in line with a number of resolutions adopted by the Council that advocate for the full and equitable participation of women in public life in order to build and sustain a strong and vibrant democracy.

China congratulates the Russian Federation on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September. We are convinced that, under your leadership, Mr. President, the Council will have a fruitful month ahead. China affirms its full cooperation and support for your work. We also wish to thank Poland, as President for the month of August, for its contribution to the smooth conduct of the Council’s work. China thanks Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé and Ambassador Schulz for their briefings. I also listened carefully to the statement by the civil society representative, Ms. Mohamed. The situation in Libya has been in turmoil for more than eight years, subjecting the Libyan people to tremendous suffering and leading to the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the surrounding region. The international community must take effective measures to help Libya to bring about a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of a political dialogue. China wishes to make the following remarks. First, the political process should be Libyan-led and Libyan-owned. China commends the relevant parties in Libya for honouring the commitment to a truce during the Eid al-Adha festivities. All parties must build upon that, bear in mind the overarching interests of Libya and its people, strengthen mutual trust and seek solutions through dialogue and consultations, with a view to ultimately achieving lasting peace, prosperity and stability in the country. Secondly, the international community must play a constructive role in seeking a solution to the situation in Libya. It is imperative to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya. Priority must be given to issues such as foreign terrorist fighters and the influx and proliferation of weapons in Libya. Council resolutions must be strictly implemented. Countries with influence must strive to promote peace negotiations and move the parties towards the cessation of hostilities and the resumption of dialogue. Thirdly, support must be given to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and Special Representative Salamé. It is also important to leverage the advantages and roles of the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States and other regional organizations. Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé has put forward a three-step proposal, which provides a practical approach to resolving the situation in Libya. The international community must create conditions conducive to its implementation, in particular the second and third steps. The AU and the League of Arab States are well placed to mediate between the parties to the conflict and should be supported in that task so as to build synergy with the United Nations. Fourthly, the issue of sanctions must be properly addressed. Under the current circumstances, it is important to strictly implement the arms embargo on Libya. At the same time, the purpose of the sanctions is to facilitate a political settlement. Caution should be taken to prevent other sanctions from negatively impacting Libyan civilians or any third countries. Nor should sanctions compromise the overall national interests of Libya or the normal lives of Libyans and their humanitarian needs. The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, its secretariat and the Panel of Experts should carry out their work impartially and in strict accordance with the relevant Council resolutions. China supports the Libyan people in the pursuit of peace and stability. China always takes an impartial stance on the Libyan question and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Libyan issue. China will work together with the international community and actively contribute to restoring peace and stability in Libya.

I would like to take the opportunity of this briefing on the United Nations Mission of Support in Libya to congratulate the Russian Federation on its assumption of the presidency of the Council and to assure you, Mr. President, of our support. I also wish you every success. I would also like to thank Poland for the quality of its presidency over the past month. We congratulate Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, on his excellent and, as always, informative briefing. Lastly, I also thank Ambassador Juergen Schulz for his briefing on the periodic report on the activities of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, and Ms. Marwa Mohamed for her enlightening presentation on the work of the non-governmental organization Lawyers for Justice in Libya. On 21 May, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General drew the Security Council’s attention to the possible consequences of the clashes between General Khalifa Haftar’s troops and the forces of the Government of National Accord, led by Prime Minister Faiez Serraj (see S/PV.8530). After nearly six months of hostilities for control of the capital, Tripoli, the Libyan crisis is increasingly at an impasse, with almost no prospects for an early settlement. Like other members, Côte d’Ivoire has repeatedly expressed to the Council its deep concern about the security and humanitarian consequences of the fighting and their impact on the political process to resolve the crisis. While hoping that the stakeholders recognize that there will not be a just and lasting peace in their country without an inclusive, viable and credible political process, the international community must unfortunately continue to count the tragic number of victims of those clashes, which has reached 1,093 deaths and more than 105,000 displaced persons, according to estimates by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as of 9 August. Of equal concern is the fate of sub-Saharan migrants, victim to all kinds of human rights abuses and violations in detention centres, 53 of whom died in the bombing of the Tajura detention centre on 3 July. Côte d’Ivoire would like to reiterate its strong condemnation of that attack and calls for the immediate implementation of a credible and independent investigation to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable before the law for their acts. In addition, my delegation strongly hopes that the migrants rescued off the Libyan coast will be treated with humanity and dignity and that their repatriation to their countries of origin, if they agree, will be carried out in conjunction with the specialized agencies of the United Nations, in accordance with the relevant international standards. The documented arms deliveries to the parties to the conflict, in flagrant violation of the embargo, remain another source of concern to my country, especially since they are fuelling a conflict whose stalemate seems to make the possibility for the resumption of intra-Libyan dialogue increasingly remote. Côte d’Ivoire therefore strongly supports the effective implementation of resolution 2473 (2019), adopted unanimously on 10 June, which mandates the strict implementation of the arms embargo through the control of vessels off the Libyan coast. Compliance with the arms embargo would no doubt be a decisive factor in the conclusion of a lasting ceasefire, which would ipso facto create an environment conducive to the revival of the political process to resolve the crisis. It is urgent that the crisis see a swift political resolution that would create the conditions for an extension of State authority throughout the national territory and the reversal of the dangerous trend towards the entrenchment of the Islamic State in certain parts of the country. Côte d’Ivoire would like to congratulate Mr. Salamé once again for his personal and steadfast commitment to the quest for a return to peace in Libya and to encourage him to continue his outstanding mediation efforts with the warring parties despite the many and varied obstacles he faces. My country remains convinced that there can be no lasting peace and stability in Libya without an inclusive, credible political dialogue and calls for a lasting ceasefire under the auspices of the United Nations. To that end, the international community, in particular the Security Council, must use mediation and good offices to convince the parties to lay down their weapons and engage in direct dialogue on all the issues fuelling their differences. In that connection, my delegation welcomes the plea of the African Union and the Group of Seven (G-7), made on the margins of the recent G-7 Summit in Biarritz, France, for a truce and an inter-Libyan conference. The organization of such a conference, which Côte d’Ivoire avidly hopes will take place, can be made possible only through the joint efforts of the United Nations and the African Union in keeping with the strategic framework signed in April 2017. In that regard, my country would like to recall the communiqué of the African Union Peace and Security Council following its meeting of 5 July, which emphasizes the role of the African Union and its readiness to work closely with the countries of the region to find lasting solutions to the Libyan crisis. It is also worth recalling the concerns expressed by the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya as to the ongoing foreign interference that further polarizes the positions of the actors in the Libyan crisis, thereby compromising efforts to achieve a much-desired ceasefire and establish a fruitful dialogue, which is essential for the return of peace and stability to Libya. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate, once again, my country’s support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the staff of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for their continued efforts to find solutions to the multiple challenges facing Libya. My country is convinced that, however complex they might seem, the obstacles to peace and stability remain surmountable, but will be overcome definitively only through the Libyan people’s deep desire for peace, strong national ownership of the crisis-resolution process and sustained support from the international community.

First of all, allow me to join others in congratulating you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of this organ for the month of September and to thank Poland for its excellent work last month. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2019/682) of 26 August. We also extend our thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary- General and Head of United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Mr. Ghassan Salamé, and Ambassador Juergen Schulz, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, for their briefings. We also thank Ms. Mohamed for the information provided to the Council. Allow me to begin my intervention by expressing the solidarity of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with the Libyan people and our hope that a solution to the serious crisis is found and that the peace so desired by Libyans and the countries of our region of Africa is restored. We reiterate our firm support for Mr. Salamé in his immeasurable task and unwavering message that there is no military solution in Libya. We urge the parties to establish an immediate and definitive ceasefire and to resume the political process through direct, frank and inclusive dialogue. We approach today’s meeting with the utmost concern about the situation and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions. We are concerned about the number of civilians killed and internally displaced, as well as the more than 5,000 migrants and refugees arbitrarily held in detention centres, not to mention the high number of deaths off the coast of Libya and in the Mediterranean recently. In that connection, we welcome the measures presented by Mr. Salamé at the meeting held on 29 July (see S/PV.8588), in particular the call for the closure of detention centres, which we strongly support and hope will soon take place. It is with alarm that we highlight the repeated violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. We condemn the attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, clear recent examples being the attacks against Zuwara and Mitiga airports between 15 and 17 August and 1 September. We also condemn the deplorable attacks on health personnel and health facilities, as well as the obstruction of access to basic resources such as water and electricity, among others. With regard to the security situation, we deeply regret the escalation of the conflict, which is compounded by the presence of foreign fighters and active terrorists and by egregious and orchestrated violations of the arms embargo by the main actors in the conflict, as well as by other United Nations States Members. The massive flow of arms serves only to rekindle the conflict and spread instability and insecurity throughout the region. The Council must be stricter and speak unequivocally on this issue and must take more effective measures to put an end to the crisis. Without straying too far from the matter, allow me to further insist on a point that we have long been stressing and which we believe was, and continues to be, the main obstacle crippling the work of Mr. Salamé and the United Nations, that is, the issue of blatant and deliberate foreign interference in Libya. It is a key factor in the crisis and, if not removed from the equation, will doom us to the prolongation of this painful conflict. As we stated at the our meeting on 29 July, the Council and the United Nations must vehemently condemn such interference as a violation of the principle of State sovereignty and integrity, and consequently, of the Charter of the United Nations and a pillar of the Council, namely, the safeguarding of peace and security. Accordingly, we believe that, by not condemning such interference and failing to take definitive action, the Council and its members are legitimizing, and therefore permitting it to happen. We do not believe that this is the image the Council wants to project to the world. To conclude, we urge the Council and the international community to redouble their efforts to find a genuine political solution focused on the interests of the Libyan people. We commend the United Nations work in coordination with the African Union and repeat the statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission at the latest Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held in Japan on 28 and 30 August, that “African problems ought to be solved by Africans themselves, as illustrated by the signing on 6 August of the peace agreement between the Government of Mozambique and the armed opposition RENAMO and by the political arrangements for a democratic transition in Sudan.” Once again, we express our solidarity with the Libyan people.

At the outset, on behalf of my delegation, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September. We wish you every success. We would also like to commend Poland for its successful presidency last month. My delegation would like to thank the briefers: Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL); Ambassador Juergen Schulz, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya; and Ms. Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach of Lawyers for Justice in Libya. I agree with the observation of the Secretary- General in his most recent report (S/2019/682), which states that Libya’s descent into political uncertainty and armed hostilities is deeply alarming. There can be no military solution to the conflict in Libya. Allow me to focus on the following points. First, military actions must stop immediately. Today marks five months since the start of the current crisis in Tripoli and Libya as a whole. While we welcome the truce that was observed during the weekend of Eid Al-Adha, we are still concerned about the situation on the ground, including various attacks on civilian facilities and the attack in Benghazi last month that resulted in the death of three UNSMIL personnel. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims for their loss and call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and exercise restraint with regard to attacking civilian facilities. We urge all parties to stop undertaking military action, de-escalate tension on the ground and return to political negotiations. In that regard, I would like to reiterate the call on all Member States to fully respect the arms embargo and not to intervene in the conflict or take measures that would exacerbate it, as stated in the Security Council press statement of 5 July (SC/13873) and in accordance with resolution 1970 (2011). Secondly, Indonesia reiterates its call for the protection of civilians. The current report shows that since the outbreak of fighting, more than 100,000 people, half of whom are children, have fled their homes. A total of 552,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Basic supplies, such as water, food and electricity, are limited and the fighting has resulted in at least 395 civilian casualties. Even in the midst of that dire situation, the Libya humanitarian response plan for 2019 received less than 29 per cent of its requested funding. Conditions are indeed dreadful; the situation must end. Thirdly, Indonesia supports the convening of a Libyan dialogue for Libyans to peacefully discuss the future of Libya. We welcome and support the three-step initiative put forward by Special Representative Salamé at the most recent Council briefing in July (see S/PV.8588). The truce during Eid Al-Adha was a first step that, to a certain extent, has been successful in reducing violence, in particular in the Tripoli area, as mentioned by Special Representative Salamé. It is a very important step. It not only triggers the start of the plan, but is also a beacon of hope for Libya and the international community. It shows that peace can be achieved in Libya. We hope to transform the accomplishment of the truce into a lasting ceasefire using confidence-building measures. The next step, which involves the international community, is also very important to support the Libyan national dialogue. We call on all partners and regional organizations, including the African Union and the League of Arab States, to engage constructively and maintain their support in a sincere manner to find a solution for peace in Libya. Indonesia reiterates its full support for UNSMIL and Special Representative Ghassan Salamé, including his latest appeal to the Council to consider adding a provision to the Mission’s mandate to enable scalable ceasefire support for any form of further truce or cessation of hostilities to be agreed upon by the conflicting parties. We look forward to the unity of the Council in providing the same support in the upcoming extension of the UNSMIL mandate. In conclusion, we hope that our voices in the Chamber today will resonate with the people in Libya and that we are able to do what we are all here for — saving lives.

First, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September, and thank Poland for its successful presidency in August. We thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting and Special Representative Ghassan Salamé, Ambassador Juergen Schulz and Ms. Marwa Mohamed for their informative briefings on the most recent developments on the ground. We would like to begin by reiterating the need for the parties to return to the table in the quest for a political solution, which is the only viable one in this context. That entails an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, followed by confidence-building mechanisms and institutional unification processes, in particular in the case of the security forces. The goal is to prevent further escalation, which would undoubtedly benefit terrorist groups in that area. In reaffirming our support for the plan put forward by Special Representative Salamé, we welcome the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to maintain the political process through meetings held within the framework of track-two dialogues, in which many women have participated. As Ms. Mohamed reminded us, that is crucial to any political, social and economic solution. At the same time, we welcome the initiatives spearheaded by young Libyans to promote a humanitarian truce. We are particularly concerned about the serious human rights violations committed by all parties to the Libyan conflict, including allegations about the use of child soldiers. In that regard, it is imperative that those responsible be held accountable. Indiscriminate attacks and the destruction of basic civilian infrastructure, including by air strikes on hospitals and health and humanitarian personnel, must be investigated and punished. That is all compounded by the serious humanitarian situation that has plagued the country, as a result of the ever-increasing number of internally displaced persons, owing to violence and the loss of basic services, and in particular the critical and degrading conditions suffered by migrants and refugees in detention centres, which, as proposed by the Special Representative, should be redesigned or closed. That is in line with the Secretary-General’s assertion that Libya is not currently a safe port of disembarkation and that necessary measures must be taken in that regard, including efforts to prevent migrants and refugees from falling back into the hands of traffickers. In all such cases, the assistance of the international community is crucial, in particular in efforts to end the current crisis. The first step is to ensure strict compliance with the arms embargo imposed by the Council and to refrain from taking measures that could exacerbate the current situation. We conclude by expressing our solidarity with the Libyan people and reaffirming our support for Special Representative Salamé and the entire UNSMIL team for their commendable and necessary work under such difficult conditions. We also endorse the extension of the Mission’s mandate. In that regard, we welcome the reopening of United Nations offices in the east of the country and encourage the Mission not to halt efforts to ensure the resumption of a comprehensive political dialogue in coordination with and in support of the Government of National Accord.

First of all, Mr. President, let me too extend our best wishes for your presidency and thank Poland for its successful presidency last month. I would like to thank Special Representative Salamé and Ms. Mohamed for their enlightening briefings. I would like to make four short points. First, with regard to the arms embargo, the continued flow of arms into Libya, in open breach of Security Council resolutions, harms the Libyan people and the authority of the Security Council and must end. It also weakens the readiness of the conflicting parties to negotiate, thereby undermining Special Representative Salamé’s mediation efforts. We again urge all States to immediately take the measures necessary to ensure the full and strict implementation of the arms embargo. Non-compliance with the sanctions regime has grave consequences for Libya. We therefore urge all United Nations Member States to immediately halt any arms delivery. The illicit flow of arms needs to stop and needs to stop now. Otherwise, we may see even more escalation to come. Secondly, with regard to the political way ahead, there is no military solution for Libya, and what Libya needs right now is an immediate ceasefire, negotiations between the parties to the conflict and a push in that direction by all external actors with influence on them. Let me, first and foremost, reiterate our firm support for Special Representative of the Secretary- General Salamé, his team at the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and their important and tireless work in such difficult and dangerous circumstances. We will work to renew and strengthen UNSMIL’s mandate in the coming weeks. We strongly support the three-step plan that Special Representative Salamé proposed to the Council in his previous briefing (see S/PV.8588) in order to revive an inclusive political process under United Nations auspices. We commend the commitment of the parties to the truce during Eid Al-Adha and the substantial reduction of violence during that period along the main front lines. That positive first step must now be extended to a prolonged, robust and lasting ceasefire. We therefore urge all relevant actors to support the implementation of the three-step plan, bring about a genuine ceasefire and use their influence to bring all parties back to the political process. Thirdly, the conflict in Libya, fuelled by the ongoing flow of arms, has caused a humanitarian disaster, and the briefings by Special Representative Salamé and Ms. Mohamed reminded us that the most vulnerable in conflict-affected areas, as well as migrants and refugees, especially need immediate protection. We strongly condemn all attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and health workers, and once again urge all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law to avoid further casualties and safeguard the lives of civilians. We welcome the decision of the Libyan authorities to close three detention centres, but it is important that the closures be implemented gradually and deliberately and that those set free are supported by the Libyan authorities and international humanitarian organizations. Lastly, I want to especially thank Ms. Mohamed for her very informative briefing about the situation of women in Libya today. Civil society plays an important role in many areas and aspects — in reporting crimes, protecting women, building supportive networks and giving women a voice. We strongly condemn sexual violence perpetrated against migrant women and girls. The absence of a central State authority and the lack of accountability for crimes of sexual and gender- based violence are alarming and contribute to general insecurity and a climate of fear. The abduction of House of Representative lawmaker Siham Sergewa is a case in point. It shows how dangerous it is for women to participate in the political process in Libya these days in a climate of reprisals against women who speak out or get involved in political and social activities. We need to see her swift return so that her voice can be heard. Her case is a stark reminder that the involvement of women in political processes and peacebuilding is absolutely critical.

I now give the floor to the representative of Libya.

At the outset, I congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I wish you every success. I thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2019/682) on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL); Mr. Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing on the latest developments in my country; and Mr. Schulz, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, for his briefing on the work of the Committee. Today’s date of 4 September marks five full months since the beginning of the aggression against the capital of my country, in which one-third of the population of Libya lives. That aggression has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Libyans, including civilians. That indiscriminate attack has also led to the displacement of tens of thousands of citizens and the destruction of the capital’s infrastructure, including the sole airport used by all citizens from every part of Libya. The war continues unabated. Unfortunately, regional and international interests have taken precedence over the interests of the Libyan people, who yearn for a democratic and civilian State in which the rule of law reigns. My delegation would like to express its sincere appreciation for all the efforts of the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union to reach a solution and end that aggression. We also reiterate that such efforts will fail without a unified international initiative that engages all international stakeholders involved in the Libyan issue. Any result or outcome of such an initiative should be binding on all. Anyone hesitating or obstructing such an agreement must be held to account by the international community, especially the Security Council, as such actions risk destabilizing Libya and the unity of its institutions. My delegation commends the latest report of the Secretary-General, especially its positive reception of the political initiative of the President of the Presidency Council to end the current crisis. In that regard, we welcome Special Representative of the Secretary-General Salamé’s call for the convening of an international conference on Libya in which all international stakeholders having an interest in Libya would participate. We believe, however, that it is imperative to hold a Libyan national meeting before such an international conference, as had been planned prior to the attack on the capital. That would enable us to develop a national position that would represent the will of the Libyan people and be supported later by the international community, rather than vice versa. One of its goals would be to reach a unified position to end the negative interference of some countries. It would also send a clear message to all parties with regard to the need to reach an agreement that should speedily establish the constitutional and legal steps required for the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections within specific time frames so as to end the present chaotic state of affairs of the Libyan people. It would also end their suffering caused by violations their basic rights, owing to unjustified disagreements and wars. The report of the Secretary-General touches upon the reasons undermining the peaceful process aimed at achieving the goal of holding a comprehensive national conference. The Secretary-General attributes the failure to hold the conference mainly to the war launched against Tripoli on 4 April. My Government has therefore called on the Security Council to act swiftly to counter the blatant aggression and end the attack. It should also hold the perpetrators accountable and implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, all of which have always called for a peaceful solution as the only alternative to end this crisis. Unfortunately, we have witnessed procrastination within the Council. We could have saved the lives of hundreds of young Libyans and migrants who have lost their lives to indiscriminate shelling had the Council assumed its responsibilities and implemented its resolutions on Libya. Nevertheless, as a State Member of the United Nations, my country remains hopeful that the Council will speedily adopt urgently needed measures to end the insidious aggression so that the country can resume the political process and advance along the path of peace, which is the only satisfactory alternative for all Libyans, who continue to entertain high hopes to that end. The severe conditions resulting from war in my country provide fertile ground for terrorist organizations that do not differentiate between Libyans in the eastern or the western part of the country. The activities and actions of those organizations threaten peace and security in Libya and throughout the entire world, My Government condemns in the strongest terms the latest terrorist attacks in Libya. The security apparatus in the west of the country is working to dismantle the organizations that are using the current war circumstances to commit despicable crimes against State institutions and civilians. In this vein, we remind the Council that the war on terrorism and its organizations is an international struggle in which the Government of National Accord and its allies are participating. Our anti-terrorism forces are still combating terrorism in various hotspots all over the country, in direct cooperation and coordination with the United States of America. We call on the Council to assist my country to eradicate the conditions that enable terrorists to achieve their objectives and spread even further, especially given the security vacuum created by the latest attacks. Turning to the reference in the Secretary-General’s latest report to the need to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes under international humanitarian law, my country’s delegation appeals once again to the Council to form a fact-finding team to investigate the crimes committed against civilians and health facilities, as well as migrant detention centres. One of the team’s tasks would also be to determine who is responsible for acts such as the indiscriminate shelling of the Al-Intisar and Abu Salim neighbourhoods early in the war and the detention centre for illegal migrants in Tajura on 2 July, as well as the attack on the civilian field hospitals. The latest such violation was the shelling of the Mitiga civilian airport two days ago, which injured a number of workers and traveling pilgrims and damaged a number of civilian aircrafts. Those gross violations must be investigated immediately. We therefore reiterate our call on the International Criminal Court to expedite its procedures and prosecute the perpetrators of those attacks as war criminals. My delegation would like to echo the call of the Secretary-General, in his latest report, for States to revisit policies that support the return of migrants to Libyan shores. We would also like to stress the need for international coordination in that regard, as the responsibility to care for those migrants should not be shouldered exclusively by Libya, as a transit country, but rather by the international community, including the countries of origin and destination. Necessary assistance should also be provided to those migrants so that they can be repatriated and reunified with their families through the adoption of an international mechanism to monitor the implementation and financing of this operation. We agree with the Secretary-General’s assessment in his report that Libya is not a safe refuge for migrants in the light of the prevailing security problems due to political disagreements and the war against the capital over the past five months. My delegation stresses that, just as it is the duty of any country to maintain the safety and stability of its people, it is the national duty of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord to combat the aggression against Tripoli. We reiterate our position that an aggressor cannot be a partner in a democratic civil State. Past experience shows that aggressors have rejected State institutions and categorically rejected the placing of the military under the control of a civil authority. My Government reiterates its position rejecting the call for a ceasefire based on the status quo, which would put the aggressor on an equal footing with the victims of the aggression. We totally reject that scenario. My Government also stresses that it will spare no effort to counter the aggression to the best of its ability until it defeats the aggressor. We will start a new phase unlike previous phases that the country has seen since 2011. We will all work together as Libyans to build a strong State free of armed groups or authoritarianism. In conclusion, we would like to thank Ms. Marwa Mohamed for her briefing and commend her for informing the Council of the violations to which Libyan women are subject, including abduction and killings. In that connection, we stress that in the current political circumstances, such violations, sadly, affect everyone — men and women. In order to address this issue in particular and protect human rights in general, we need the support of the international community for the efforts of the Government of National Accord until we reach a political solution leading to the formation of a strong Government that has control over all Libyan territory and can address all such violations and hold their perpetrators accountable. Since Ms. Mohamed is Libyan and defends human rights, especially those of women in Libya, she ought to have delivered her statement in Arabic so that all Libyans — men and women — would have been able to directly follow her words.

I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.