Statement at the UNSC Briefing on Libya

Statement

Thank you Mr. President,

And thank you to the Special Representative for your update this morning.

Special Representative Bathily, we continue to support your efforts to reach a sustainable and peaceful Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solution to the current crisis.

We reiterate our call for Libyan leaders to come together and agree on a constitutional basis towards free, fair and inclusive elections, as soon as possible.

The ultimate goal should be the establishment of a unified Libyan government, which serves all Libyans and brings to a close this protracted transition period.

We are encouraged by the Special Representative’s commitment to an inclusive approach.

We continue to urge meaningful engagement with civil society, and women and youth. This is all the more essential against the backdrop of an alarming shrinking civil society space in Libya.

We welcome the meeting last month of the Joint Military Commission five-plus-five in Sirte, and the agreement to establish a subcommittee on armed groups.

 We echo calls for full and expeditious implementation of the October 2020 ceasefire agreement, as well as for the maintenance of prevailing calm on the ground.

Finally, Mr. President,

We welcome the unanimous adoption of UNSMIL’s mandate, for a year-long period, last month. This was a critical step in enabling the Special Representative to fulfill his mandate with predictability and stability.

 Resolution twenty-six-fifty six contains key elements including on women’s participation, accountability, human rights, and the protection of civilians.

Libyans deserve our collective support around this table and of the international community more broadly.

We encourage all actors to use their influence and good offices to avoid a deepening of tensions between Libyan parties, and to put Libyans first.

The appointment of Special Representative Bathily, coupled with the substantive renewal of UNSMIL’s mandate, should provide us with the opportunity and momentum to achieve this.

Thank you.

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