YouSaid · the spoken record

Faiez Mustafa Serraj

lines on the record: 77
first: 2016-09-24
most recent: 2020-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Libya possesses the capabilities and natural resources, as well as the strategic and distinguished location, to achieve those aspirations. With the assistance of our friends, the Libyans can establish a prosperous future for our country. We hope to bring this painful chapter in our nation’s history to a swift end as we transform into a democratic and pluralistic State where cultural diversity is respected — a State of laws and institutions.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Libya will continue to support the Palestinian question and the Palestinian people in their quest to establish their long-sought independent State, for which they have given thousands of martyrs. In conclusion, I wish to underscore that a democratic and civilian State is the aspiration of the Libyan people, as the reason for their revolt and the goal for which we continue to strive. We aspire to live in a State where there is a peaceful transfer of power, human rights are respected, human dignity is preserved and the law limits abuses, whatever their source. We aspire to build a State that lives in peace and achieves development, that cooperates with its neighbours and that renounces violence and fights against terrorism and extremism.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In that context, I must also express our support for the demand made by the Group of Arab States for a permanent seat in the Council. Peace in the Middle East will never be achieved as long as the occupying Power continues to occupy Palestinian territories, establishing more settlements, threatening to annex more land and imposing more unjust blockades, in total disregard for all related international resolutions. We join the Palestinian people in rejecting the practices of the occupying authorities and in demanding the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. We also express our rejection of all attempts to abuse the Palestinian question in order to serve non-Palestinian interests or reach agreements that the Palestinians themselves neither agree with nor participate in.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Accordingly, we emphasize our demand for the need to rectify the historical injustices inflicted upon the African continent in terms of lack of fair representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council. We reaffirm the demands of the African Union, contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, for two permanent seats with all rights and powers, including the veto power, and two additional non-permanent seats. Those demands are just and reflect the right of the African continent to effectively participate in the decisions taken by the Council, which are often focused on African issues. Those demands also represent the bare minimum to be done in order to rectify the historic marginalization and injustices inflicted upon the African continent.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Unfortunately, we have not yet received an effective response to our legitimate request. My delegation supports the reforms led by the Secretary-General with regard to certain United Nations organs. Despite the progress achieved thus far in that regard, the Security Council, which is the Organization’s most important organ, remains far from being adequately reformed. It is essential to introduce genuine reforms to the Security Council, which no longer reflects the contemporary international realities and the serious challenges of the twenty-first century that constitute a threat to international peace and security. The current geopolitical reality is ripe for reform and equitable representation in the Council.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Much of Libya’s funds have been drained from the country; we therefore call on the States into which those funds were smuggled to assist in their retrieval. In that connection, we wish to refer to the frozen assets of the Libyan sovereign wealth fund, which have been exposed to losses as a result of the sanctions imposed by the Security Council since 2011. We underscore that the purpose of those sanctions were to preserve Libyan assets and funds, not continue eroding them. In reality, we are suffering great losses as a result of the frozen status of those funds and assets. Since March 2016, we have been providing the Security Council and the Sanctions Committee with clear and consecutive data on the scale of the heavy losses we are incurring and we have called for amendments to the existing sanctions regime to avoid such heavy losses.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It has been almost five years since we began implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, but we are concerned by the serious challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic that undermine the gains made and impede further progress. Libya continues to face many challenges with regard to achieving the SDGs, in particular due to insecurity and political instability in the country. We are all aware that there can be no development without security and vice versa. In that context, we look forward to overcoming the difficulties we are currently experiencing so that we can launch real development plans and programmes and promote the economy in order to meet the SDGs. It is vital to mobilize local resources and employ them in the implementation of development programmes.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“My country attaches great importance to disarmament and the promotion of international peace and security, demonstrated by our active participation in discussions on the topic and our co-sponsorship of a number of United Nations resolutions. We continue to respect all relevant international treaties and conventions, in line with our understanding of the threat posed to international peace and security by the production and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction and the horror they cause for all humankind. Libya also contributes to international efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and to maintain international peace and security.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The same reports neglect to mention the fact that more than half a million irregular migrants live peacefully among Libyans, working in various sectors and sending funds back to their families in their countries of origin. There is broad international consensus that addressing the challenges of migration exceeds the capacity of any individual country. Libya is a victim and not a cause of irregular migration, and therefore we reaffirm that the best solution is to address the root causes that drive people to flee their countries of origin. It is imperative that the international community assist those countries and encourage them to implement real development programmes and improve services, sparing no effort to eradicate poverty, unemployment and all other hardships that lead people to embark on life-threatening migration.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It has become difficult to address such a phenomenon without external cooperation and assistance commensurate with its challenges and serious repercussions. We look forward to further collaboration with the international organizations with which we have consulted and coordinated in order to obtain realistic and objective data on migrants in Libya and the hardships they face. We do not believe that unilateral reports containing inaccurate and exaggerated information are helpful in reaching meaningful solutions. Such reports are disappointing because they focus on alleged violations by the relevant authorities in the country without mention of the same authorities’ efforts to serve the interests of migrants.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In Libya, for example, we are cooperating with some of our neighbours on joint border control efforts in order to arrest and prosecute terrorists. My country is continuously concerned by the phenomenon of irregular migration and acknowledges the urgent need to address the continued flow of migrants who are exposed to great dangers, including exploitation by human trafficking networks. Irregular migration represents a human tragedy that the international community has thus far been unable to resolve. As a transit country, Libya is facing serious economic, social and security repercussions as a result of that phenomenon, which has exacerbated instability in our country and reflected negatively on Libyan society.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“By targeting Libya, Da’esh threatened our security, stability and safety, as well as our natural resources, which it sought to exploit in the service of its evil plans, which have nothing to do with Islam. Libya has ratified all international conventions related to the fight against terrorism and considers the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its four pillars to be one of the most important legal frameworks to facilitate counterterrorism through national legislation. The promotion of regional and international cooperation remains the best way to track down and eliminate terrorist networks and, in that connection, we must highlight the need to support regional and subregional counter-terrorism plans and programmes.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The Government of National Accord is committed to safeguarding the right of citizens to peacefully express themselves, as enshrined by the law, and to protect demonstrators, allowing them to express their opinions and their legitimate demands for better living conditions, better services and an end to corruption. We will not allow any attempt to oppress them by force. My country reaffirms its rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its source or motive. We stress that terrorism is a global phenomenon that should not be attributed to any religion or creed. My country has made great sacrifices to eliminate terrorist organizations that included a number of foreign fighters, such as the foreign Da’esh organization.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The aggression against Tripoli constituted a flagrant violation of all principles of human rights, with indiscriminate bombings that have caused death, destruction and displacement. The use of landmines and field executions revealed mass graves in the city of Tarhouna after the aggressor had been defeated. Those gross violations of human rights were addressed by the Human Rights Council, which responded to our demands and formed a relevant commission of inquiry. We welcome that measure and reiterate our readiness to cooperate and facilitate the work of the Council. We also call on the Council to investigate the violations suffered by citizens of the city of Sirte at the hands of Haftar’s militias, the most recent of which included the detention of a number of men and the execution of one in front of his family.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The only exception would be those proven to have committed crimes and to have spilled Libyan blood. Pertaining to human rights issues, we emphasize our determination to protect and promote these rights. To that end, we have issued a number of laws at the national level. Despite the challenges we face, we are striving to fulfil our international obligations under the relevant international conventions and are currently reviewing our accession to further treaties and conventions that promote human rights. We also attach great importance to the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality and we continue to provide free education and health care to all citizens.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We have always known that the policies of an elected Government of national unity are required to address these challenges. Therefore, we reiterate our call for an agreement based on the Constitution and for the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections. We look forward to strong international support. We also welcome the effective contribution of the United Nations to ensure the requirements for successful elections, for which Libyans who believe in democracy and State institutions have waited far too long. Undoubtedly, this will end the legitimacy crisis. To that end, we believe that we must hasten to resume the political dialogue and include all stakeholders — all political factions and parties, all regions and all segments of society, regardless of their affiliation or ideology.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“However, we have not yet seen response from the armed groups and militias. Instead, their spokesman issued hostile statements and we have seen breaches by their forces, backed up by the mercenaries. We hold them responsible for military confrontations and all subsequent casualties and destruction. We have made many attempts to improve the living conditions of Libyans, strengthen the service sectors and limit the proliferation of weapons and insecurity. In many cases, through cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, we have achieved tangible progress. However, these efforts have been unsustainable because of external negative interventions and division among our institutions, as well as stalled oil production, which is our main source of income.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Foreign forces and mercenaries must withdraw from both districts and from Libyan territory as a whole. That is how we guarantee the sovereignty of Libyan territory established by the Government of National Accord. We welcome the regional and international support for this initiative and look forward to practical measures that could swiftly lead to full withdrawal from the aforementioned areas. The mercenaries should return to their countries and ports and oil fields must be reopened immediately. Outside influences forced their closure, which led to an estimated $9 billion in losses, in addition to considerable damage in the oil infrastructure. We welcomed the statement by political leaders in eastern Libya, calling for a ceasefire and the resumption of oil production.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We also engage in good faith in initiatives to reach a solution, as demonstrated at the recently held Berlin Conference. We have put forward several initiatives to resolve the political and security crisis, as well as plans and programmes to address the daily challenges faced by Libyans. We have constantly proven that we want peace, not war and destruction. While we possess the strength and faith to resist and defeat the aggressor, we want to prevent bloodshed and loss of life. We also want to unite our efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic, which is a threat to our citizens. We announced a ceasefire on 21 August and have called for elections by March of next year. We have underscored that an effective and lasting ceasefire requires that the regions of Sirte and Jufra be free of weapons.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“As new developments emerge with the aggressor’s defeat and the victory of the Libyan people, we are determined to overcome all obstacles and build a democratic State. We call on these States to revisit their positions and refrain from relying on the aggressors. Instead, they should discuss with the Government of National Accord how to find solutions to their concerns. We must work to establish and promote cooperation based on mutual respect, common interests and the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of States. We have stressed on all occasions our commitment to peaceful means through constructive dialogue as the only way out of the crisis. We engage positively with a United Nations-led peace process and offer it every assistance in this regard.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“On 4 April 2019, the city remained resilient in the face of a tyrannical attack led by the aggressors and militias that support them. It resulted in countless human and material losses. Our heroes made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Volcano of Rage and we were able to deter and defeat the aggression. Regrettably, it was supported by countries known to everyone and mentioned in United Nations reports. This is unacceptable because it violates Libyan sovereignty and independence, Security Council resolutions and international law, which prohibit interference in the internal affairs of States. There is no doubt that such conduct cannot be compared to legitimate agreements concluded by the legitimate Government with some States.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I wish that I could say that my country is on the path to building a civilian, democratic State where power is peacefully transferred, the rule of law is respected and human rights and dignity are protected. However, regrettably, some seek to undermine these aspirations, for which the Libyan people have made considerable sacrifices. They continue to make every effort, regardless of how destructive or unjust, to seize power and rule by force. Nevertheless, we are determined to pursue the goals for which martyrs made the ultimate sacrifice. The heroes of our national army and armed forces have proven that they can defeat anyone who seeks to impose dictatorship and the rule of the individual. We kept our promise when we stated that invaders would not enter Tripoli.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Regrettably, this year’s session is being held amid difficult and cruel international circumstances caused by COVID-19, which disregards geographical borders and does not discriminate among people. The pandemic continues to cause significant loss of life and pose a threat to all services and production sectors, especially in poor countries affected by instability and conflict. As the Secretary- General has stressed on several occasions, we can overcome the pandemic only through solidarity, greater mutual international cooperation and concerted efforts. Each time I have the opportunity to address the Assembly, I wish that I could talk about the end of the difficult transition period facing my country and its success in overcoming grave challenges.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Mr. President, Your Excellences and Honours, Ladies and gentlemen, May peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you It gives me great pleasure, Mr. President, to begin by congratulating you and your brotherly country on your election as President of the United Nations General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session. I wish you every success in discharging your tasks. I assure you my country’s delegation’s readiness to cooperate with you in order to achieve the objectives of the session. I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for his efforts during his presidency of the previous session. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the ongoing efforts of Secretary- General Antonio Guterres to fulfil the principles and purposes of the United Nations.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It is time for our country to achieve stability and for our people to enjoy security and begin the process of reconstruction. There has been enough bloodshed and enough wasted money and time.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“My country also supports all efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the situations in our brother countries of Syria and Yemen, in order to protect them from the dangers of disintegration and division as a result of destructive conflict and to realize their peoples’ aspiration to live in dignity under a democratic system that respects the law and preserves human rights. In conclusion, I want to take this opportunity to appeal from this international rostrum to every State concerned about Libya’s stability to cooperate with our Government of National Accord and with the United Nations initiatives. We urge them to uphold international law and help the Libyan people on their path to peace, security and consensus.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“My country supports reform of the Security Council and an increase in the numbers of its permanent and non-permanent members, as well as promoting the rights of non-member States that are directly affected by the issues on the Council’s agenda, including the right to participate directly in the Council’s activities. My country also stresses the importance of recognizing the right of the countries of the African continent to permanent representation on the Council. The issue of peace in the Middle East is extremely important. In the face of the many crises afflicting the region, we have spared no effort in supporting the Palestinian people and their right to establish an independent State with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative on the settlement of the Palestinian question.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In that regard, we look forward to cooperating with the relevant specialized United Nations agencies and receiving their technical support in that area. Despite the difficult circumstances, we are keeping track of everything taking place around us. We are contributing everything we can in support of every possible positive measure that serves peoples’ interests and the cause of peace. In that context, we want to express our concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, which constitutes a threat to international peace and security.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“A stable Libya will be able to secure its borders and provide job opportunities to hundreds of thousands of legal workers, in accordance with Libyan labour law. Human rights and the rule of law are critical issues to which my country attaches great importance. The changes that have taken place since 2011 have created the conditions for achieving comprehensive reforms in that regard, and several measures and decisions promoting human rights have been adopted. The Government of National Accord is also coordinating with the judiciary to create an environment conducive to its critical and important role, ensuring the principle of impunity and empowering law-enforcement agencies to do their job as required.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“As a transit country for migrants, Libya is in urgent need of political support commensurate with the challenges and dangers we are dealing with so that we can establish the institutions required to control borders, limit the problem and minimize its impact, and I am appealing for that support. What we have received is completely disproportionate to what has been provided to other States facing migration-related problems that are far less intense than Libya’s. In that regard, we highly appreciate the efforts by the Coast Guards who continue to help save the lives of thousands of migrants at sea despite limited capacities and the embargo imposed on us. In our opinion, the solution still lies in efforts to support my country’s stability.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The international community met it with silence and evaded any direct condemnation of the perpetrator of that ugly crime. This issue of migration is one of great concern for both Libyans and Europeans, but we are its victims, not its cause. In that regard, we have continued to cooperate with migrants’ destination countries and with all regional and international efforts to address the problem. It is essential that all countries work together, whether they are countries of origin, transit or destination. We must focus not just on the security dimension but also on migration’s many other aspects, as well as fostering development in countries of origin in order to eliminate poverty and unemployment while encouraging stability and survival.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We will not surrender the State’s monopoly on weapons, and we do not accept the existence of armed groups within our civilian State. In the midst of this crisis, my country is facing another critical challenge, that of illegal migration and the considerable flow of irregular migrants through Libya in their quest to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. This dangerous situation has major repercussions for us, including on the economic, security and social fronts. The aggression has only exacerbated the problem, and has resulted in many deaths because people have either been drowned at sea or lost in the desert. Migrants have become easy prey for terrorist organizations and human traffickers. The aggressor militias worsened this tragedy when they bombed a migrant shelter centre, killing and wounding dozens, including women and children.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“They are two sides of the same coin. We have therefore been eager to complement our economic reforms with reform of the security sector by implementing security arrangements aimed at establishing an overall system based on security forces and a regular police force that function according to professional criteria. Before the aggression we had made positive steps in that regard, which led to a considerable improvement in the security situation and the return of several diplomatic missions to Tripoli. We were also able to contain all the armed groups, launch a programme and mechanisms for collecting weapons and integrating former militants into our national security and military institutions, and to provide work opportunities and rehabilitation to those who want to reintegrate into civilian life.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In that regard, I would like to point to the serious financial violations on the part of some illegal parallel institutions and to warn the world that they deal in coinage outside legal channels. I also want to issue a warning against selling Libyan oil outside the legitimate framework. Our oil belongs to all Libyans, and its management is the responsibility of Libya’s National Oil Corporation alone. The Government of National Accord is the only authority entitled to oversee the State’s financial and economic institutions. We therefore renew our call for the speedy establishment under the supervision of the United Nations of a technical committee from the specialized international institutions to review the operations of the Central Bank in Tripoli and its branch in A1 Bayda. As we all know, security and a prosperous economy are linked.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Resolution 2486 (2019) has a number of positive aspects, in particular its reference in paragraph 1 to the consolidation of the Government of National Accord’s governance and security arrangements, and including support for the economic reforms that we adopted in September of last year. In that context, we should point out that we have taken steps to implement decentralization by transferring responsibility for many services to elected municipal councils, thereby providing such services directly to our citizens. Despite the claims of some to the contrary, we want to emphasize that the national budget is being disbursed in a fair and balanced way to all areas of Libya, without exception, distinction or marginalization. The salaries of all public service workers are being paid from the budget.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In that regard, we have held a series of national consultations that have included all sectors of Libyan society, including representatives of the political, social and cultural sectors as well as women, young people and military leaders. We will continue to hold such meetings to bring together representatives of every region, and we will include civil society in order to consolidate a comprehensive national vision for ending the crisis. At this critical time we therefore welcome the position of the members of the parliamentary session held in Tripoli and of the State Council, which holds them responsible for rolling back the enemy, establishing democracy and fostering a modern civilian State.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It also stressed the importance of completing the constitutional process and holding elections. We are firmly committed to dialogue and the political process within the framework of new mechanisms that take account of the consequences of the 4 April aggression. We reiterate that we will not sit down again with Haftar. He is a war criminal, not a partner for peace. In June, I proposed an initiative for holding a national conference to include representatives of all Libyans who support a democratic civilian State, which would culminate in the holding of legislative and presidential elections based on a legal foundation established by the conference. There can be no place at the dialogue table for anyone wanting to militarize the State and to consign us to years of underdevelopment and terrorism.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are ready to prevent bloodshed for all Libyans, and I want to take this opportunity to urge all the young people who have been persuaded to participate in a war without a cause, a war waged on behalf of one person who is obsessed with power, to lay down their arms, return safely to their homes and stand with their homeland. We want to live in peace and connect with other States of the world in cooperation and mutual respect. We reject all interference in our domestic affairs. In that regard, we welcomed the adoption on 12 September of Security Council resolution 2486 (2019), extending the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, which affirmed its continued commitment to the Libyan Political Agreement and to ensuring that Member States stop dealing with parallel institutions.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“This is based on a totally false premise, because there are no disputes in Libya in terms of social and religious infrastructure. The war is actually between the advocates for a civilian State and those who want to militarize it. It is therefore high time that the country’s eastern region was represented by an elite group of intellectuals, politicians and effective social elements who can work with the representatives of other regions in order to achieve a consensus political solution that guarantees rights and a peaceful transfer of power within the framework of a modern civilian State. We want peace and accord. We have repeatedly stressed that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Libya. Neither can it have a winner. There is one loser in this conflict, and that is Libya.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The aggressor has tried to sway public opinion by saying that he is fighting terrorism. That is a false claim. It is the forces of the Government of National Accord, as part of the international coalition to combat terrorism, that have fought and defeated the terrorist organization Da’esh and liberated Sirte from its elements. We continue to cooperate strategically with the United States and to work together to root out the remnants of terrorism, wherever they are. We will keep fighting until we eradicate all the terrorists and terrorism. Our soldiers who fought that terrorist group are the ones who are now pushing back the treacherous aggression against the Libyan capital and other regions. In the face of his failing allegations, the aggressor is trying to promote the idea that the war is between eastern and western Libya.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“There have been random bombings of civilian neighbourhoods and attacks targeting civilian airports, hospitals, ambulances and infrastructure as well as practices such as child recruitment. The list goes on. Behind all of this is the war criminal himself and everyone who supports him with financing and weapons. We therefore reiterate our request that Khalifa Haftar’s name be put on the international sanctions list and his supporters held legally responsible and accountable for their killings and destruction. In that context, we are asking the United Nations to quickly dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate and document these flagrant violations, just as we have asked the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to speed up her investigations in that regard.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Despite the pain, their heroic epics will remain alive in the memory of our homeland and its future generations. The aggressor’s plans are clearly apparent in the areas under his control by force. His human rights violations include extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances — such as that of Ms. Siham Sergiwa, a member of Parliament, and other national figures — the suppression of opinions and elimination of political opposition. The aggression has resulted in fatal casualties among young Libyans, numbering some 3,000 so far, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of others. The aggression forces have committed serious violations that have been documented and that qualify as war crimes under international law, including actions in Tripoli and its suburbs and in the city of Murzuq.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are also puzzled by the positions of some other States, particularly our neighbour Egypt, which interferes in our affairs and lectures Libyans on democracy, the civilian State, the economy and wealth distribution. We denounce attitudes such as these that lend support to the war criminal and the plotters of his coup, in flagrant violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. We affirm that we will continue to deter the aggressor and defeat him, despite any support he may receive. We consider his supporters morally and legally responsible and will strive to prevent anyone from shedding Libyan blood. Our army and other supportive forces, through the Volcano of Rage operation, are bravely registering one victory after another. We want to pay tribute to all our brave heroes and pray that the souls of our martyrs will rest in peace.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Thanks to our brave army’s repeated victories and other supportive forces, we have defeated his aggression and have seen a change in the attitude of some countries, which supported us once Haftar’s intentions and lies were revealed and his failure was confirmed. Unfortunately, however, there are other countries that continue to interfere directly in our affairs and support the aggression, such as the United Arab Emirates, whose media recently allowed Haftar to freely broadcast his hate speech and incitement to kill Libyans. Furthermore, French Javelin missiles were found after the liberation of the city of Gharyan, the aggressor’s base of operations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“However, the coup failed, and now Haftar is once again trying desperately to militarize the country and block our path to building a modern civilian State, mocking the Libyan people’s revolution and the sacrifices they have made to free the country from dictatorship and the rule of one individual. This war criminal has been encouraged to carry out his aggression with military and financial support that he has received from certain States over the years in flagrant violation of the Security Council resolutions banning the importation of arms into Libya. This support deluded him into believing that he could enter the capital in two days. However, his delusions were dashed, and the world has begun to realize that he claims falsely that he is strong and leading a bloody militia seeking power.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It took place on 4 April, the same day that the Secretary-General visited Tripoli, and at a time when the country was excitedly and hopefully preparing to hold an inclusive national conference aimed at finding a political solution to the problem of Libya. Just days before the conference, Khalifa Haftar destroyed the aspirations of the Libyan people — and the efforts of the international community — with his attempt at a coup, incidentally not his first, against the legitimate Government. In February 2014, via a television transmission, he declared that he had suspended Parliament, the Government and the Constitutional Declaration.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Libya is experiencing an extraordinary situation and an extremely serious crisis resulting from damaging foreign interference that has led to institutional and political division. The crisis has been exacerbated to such an extent that the capital and its suburbs have been under military attack that has external funding and support, with serious negative consequences for our citizens’ security, safety and welfare. It is no exaggeration to say that the quest for security, stability and civil peace in Libya is a critical issue not just for our country but for the stability of the region and the world. The assault on the capital and its suburbs was led by a rebel soldier, the self-styled Khalifa Haftar, in what he says was a holy jihad.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I would like to begin by taking this opportunity to congratulate President Muhammad-Bande on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. I wish him every success in leading the work of the Assembly. I also want to express my thanks and appreciation to Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces for her exceptional work during her presidency of the previous session. And I thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his ongoing efforts to achieve the goals and purposes of the United Nations — maintaining international peace and security, supporting stability, advancing development and promoting human rights. I have come to address the Assembly regarding my country’s cause.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I would like to reiterate our desire for all sectors of the Libyan population to be able to exercise their rights to national self-determination and live in a State that enjoys the rule of law.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I would like to thank the Secretary-General for holding a special meeting on Libya this morning that attracted a great deal of international interest and at which everyone present reaffirmed that the backdrop to any solution must be a political one. Assistance will be needed for the presidential and parliamentary elections next year. We ask the Secretary-General and the Special Representative for Libya, Mr. Ghassan Salamé, to present us with a timeline and send a clear message to all who attempt to hinder the process that there can be no military solution and that negotiations with authorities parallel to the Government of National Accord must stop, as they are in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)