YouSaid · the spoken record

Leon

lines on the record: 83
first: 2014-09-15
most recent: 2015-11-05
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-security-council

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

“In reassuring Libya's leaders of the international community's commitment and determination to undertake every effort to provide the requisite support and assistance to a future Libyan Government of national accord, they must be reminded that the onus is now on them to forge a new political reality and bring about a decisive and permanent end to their country's political turmoil and armed conflict.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“While the United Nations will continue to encourage the two main political stakeholders to formally endorse the political agreement and the proposed composition of the presidency council, it will also continue working with the moderate voices from the different dialogue tracks and from across Libya's political and civil society spectrum, as well as those among security actors, for the sake of forging a viable way forward. The United Nations and the international community must also be prepared to move quickly in mobilizing support for a future Libyan Government of national accord. The task facing any such Government will be daunting, and the technical, human and material resources needed to address existing challenges would be beyond the capacities of Libya's much-weakened State institutions.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“The political agreement negotiated within the framework of the dialogue process is the result of a year-long complex process of negotiations and compromises that have sought to create a viable middle ground on which all Libyans can meet. The proposed agreement was never intended to provide a panacea for all of Libya's problems, but rather to lay out a set of structures and principles that would guide the next phase of Libya's political transition until such time as the constitution-making process was completed. I therefore call on Libya's leaders to uphold Libya's higher national interests and safeguard their country's national unity, independence and territorial integrity. They owe that to their country and to the Libyan people. The next few days will be critical to Libya's future.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“The same message has also been echoed across the spectrum of Libya's political and civil society, including by participants from the different tracks of the Libyan political dialogue process, as well as by numerous armed groups that have been party to the military conflict over the past year. Among all there is a growing sense of urgency and an insistence that the country should no longer be held hostage to the narrow interests of a few on either side of the political divide. Libya's leaders have a unique opportunity to reach a political settlement that spares their country and their people further bloodshed and destruction.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“The respective leaderships of both houses have an obligation to take note, uphold the democratic principles which they have been entrusted with, and facilitate a debate and vote on the issue in accordance with existing rules of procedure and without threat or intimidation. In the interest of upholding the democratic process and ensuring institutional unity, I urge the respective leadership of the House of Representatives and of the General National Congress to listen to calls within their respective houses, and those of the Libyan people, and to desist from any further attempts and manoeuvring to obstruct the democratic process and undermine the achievements of the dialogue process.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“Illegal migration and human trafficking, the disruption to basic services and shortages in food and medicines have also added another important dimension to the human suffering unfolding in Libya. I wish to take this opportunity to remind Libya's leaders, particularly the leaderships of both the House of Representatives and the General National Congress, that they shoulder a political and moral responsibility to draw the Libyan dialogue process to a successful conclusion. There can be no further justification for delaying any longer a vote by their respective memberships on the outcome of the dialogue process. In this regard, a majority of members within both the House of Representatives and the General National Congress have signed letters stating clearly their determination to endorse the outcomes of the political dialogue process.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“The political and military conflict has exacted a heavy toll on the Libyan people. Death and displacement have become an all-too common theme, particularly in Benghazi, which has for the longest duration borne the brunt of the conflict in Libya. Massive displacement of population, the destruction of entire civilian neighbourhoods and vital infrastructure, and large-scale human rights abuses that continue to take place on a regular basis have scarred the city beyond recognition. The cowardly targeting by terrorists of peaceful demonstrators in the city on 23 October was an urgent reminder of the need to expedite efforts towards peace, and that restoring peace and stability to Benghazi will be the first step towards stabilizing Libya.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“But the magnitude of the dangers facing Libya should also not be underestimated. This is a message that I continue to reiterate to all the parties in Libya, including to the leaderships of both the House of Representatives and the General National Congress. The country's economic and finances are already showing signs of fatigue and rapid decline. The absence of effective authority is manifesting itself in growing insecurity and criminality across many parts of the country. The growing influence of terrorist and other extremist groups is posing a direct threat to the very authority of the Libyan State. The cruelty and barbarity witnessed in areas under their control are an omen of what may yet come unless there is united action to contain and eliminate this growing threat. Equally important is the scale of the human suffering.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“While I have always remained hopeful about the chances of Libya's leaders reaching a peaceful agreement, I have had no illusions about the difficulties and challenges that would likely face the political dialogue process. As I have noted on numerous occasions before the Council, there can be no viable peace in Libya without the constructive engagement and buy-in of all the parties. Forging a meaningful consensus and arriving at a balanced political agreement was likely to be a protracted and difficult process. Success would always be dependent on the parties' collective endorsement of an agreement. Likewise, Libyan ownership of the dialogue process and of its outcomes has been at the heart of the United Nations mediation efforts. This is a principle that is simply non-negotiable.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“Working closely with representatives of the international community, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya continued to impress upon both the Libyan House of Representatives and the Tripoli-based General National Congress the need to urgently convene sessions that would allow for a democratic vote on the political agreement and proposals for the presidency council. From the moment of its inception, the United Nations-facilitated Libyan political dialogue process has always been predicated on the assumption that it would be inclusive of all parties and that any solution put forward would have to be viable and comprehensive such that it would bring to an end the bitter political institutional divide that has been at the heart of the conflict that has brought much destruction and suffering to Libya and its people.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“In the three weeks that followed the announcement of the proposed composition of the presidency council, the United Nations has consulted closely with parties from across the political spectrum in an effort to resolve outstanding concerns regarding representation. In this regard, there appears to be growing support to the idea of expanding the presidency council as a means of consolidating and safeguarding Libya's historical traditions of geographical and regional balance and representation. Despite the adoption of the 21 October constitutional timeline by which we had hoped that a final political settlement would be agreed and endorsed by the main political stakeholders, there is yet to be a formal and final pronouncement by either of the main political stakeholders on the Libyan political agreement and the proposed presidency council.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“The proposed composition of the presidency council was seen as a means of securing the necessary consensus and inclusivity that would allow for a Government of national accord to assume office with the requisite support and backing of all relevant political and security stakeholders, as well as the Libyan public at large. While the proposal was hailed as a major breakthrough in the dialogue process, strong objections were voiced in some quarters, notably from within the House of Representatives, for what was perceived as inadequate representation for the east, particularly Benghazi.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“Mr. Leon: Since the high-level meeting on Libya that took place on the margins of the General Assembly on 2 October, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) convened what should have been a final round of talks in Skhirat, Morocco, to facilitate Libyan deliberations on the composition of the presidency council that would lead the country's future Government of national accord. After four days of intensive consultations, which concluded on 8 October, members of the Libyan political process succeeded in forging consensus on a list of six nominees, including a Prime Minister-designate, three deputy Prime Ministers and two Senior Ministers.”
2015-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7550 (2015) · source
“It is equally important that the international community move quickly to present a clearly articulated strategy in support of the Libyan State and the efforts by a Government of national accord to contain and eliminate the threat that groups such as Daesh pose not only to the stability of Libya but also to regional and international security.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“As Libya's dialogue process enters its final phase, I wish to thank the members of the Council for their support for my mediation efforts and to reiterate my sincere and profound gratitude and appreciation to the Libyan people and their representatives, as well as to the various Member States and regional organizations that have supported the dialogue process. In particular, I would like to thank Algeria, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Qatar, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States. The collective effort and determination of the international community will be vital to articulating a clear strategy for the delivery of technical assistance.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“I appeal to them not to waste the hard work they have invested over the past seven months in order to arrive at the point where they are today. The agreement they have negotiated may not be perfect, but it is a fair and reasonable one, in which the only winners are the Libyan people. I would also like to reiterate that the United Nations, along with the international community, will remain steadfast in its commitment and support to Libya's democratic process. Any attempt to derail the political process by undemocratic means should not be tolerated. The dialogue process remains the only credible and legitimate mechanism by which Libyans can safeguard the continuity of the democratic process in their country. Time is running out. The onus is on Libya's leaders on all sides and at all levels to make that final push towards peace.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“Overcoming the country's political polarization and divisiveness will be no easy task. We should not underestimate the magnitude of the challenges or the resources that will be needed to pull Libya back from the brink of economic meltdown and a total collapse of State institutions. Most important will be the determination and commitment of Libyans themselves, and specifically of their political leaders, if Libya is to safeguard its national unity and territorial integrity and spare its people the scourge oflong-term civil strife and instability. Iwould like to urge the leaderships ofboth the House of Representatives and the General National Congress not to squander the historic and unique opportunity before them to be peacemakers.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“It has been a difficult and challenging process, but one that has proved increasingly resilient, despite repeated attempts by spoilers from all sides whose narrow interests and agendas militate against a peaceful solution to the conflict in Libya. The fact that a majority of stakeholders have sought to engage in the different tracks is a reassuring sign of the grassroots support that the dialogue process has gradually acquired from various segments of the Libyan population. The talks have made a lot of progress in narrowing the deficit of trust that exists among Libya's political stakeholders and in forging agreement on a road map that lays out a vision for bringing a rapid end to the political crisis and military conflict that have ravaged Libya for more than a year.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“The two-day talks focused primarily on ways of expediting the dialogue process ahead of the critical deadline of 21 October, the date on which the mandate of the House of Representatives could end, according to the constitutional declaration. Although the General National Congress in Tripoli, unlike other dialogue participants, did not initial the main text of the Libyan Political Agreement on 11 July, I am confident that their concerns can be addressed in the ongoing discussions on the annexes to the Agreement, including those pertaining to the formation of a Government of national accord. Seven months after the United Nations Support Mission in Libya launched the Libyan political dialogue process, I am increasingly confident that the process is finally reaching its final stages.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“However, they must recognize that no strategy aimed at containing, if not eliminating, the Daesh threat can be viable unless it is part of a concerted, unified and coordinated effort that brings all Libyans together under a single banner whose allegiance is to the Libyan State and to a Government that is inclusive and representative of all Libyans. The message to Libya's leaders is clear. There is simply no alternative to unified and collective action if Libyans are to succeed in preventing a repeat of the catastrophic advances that Daesh has made in countries such as Syria and Iraq. After my last briefing, in which I updated the Council on progress being made in the Libyan political dialogue process, I reconvened the main dialogue track for a new round of talks held in Geneva on 11 and 12 August.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“That control has now been extended to a stretch of coastline covering more than 200 kilometres east and west of Sirte. Despite an attempt on 11 August by local armed groups to dislodge Daesh from Sirte, its fighters regained control of the city three days later. The casualty figures are difficult to confirm, but witnesses report that Daesh has carried out brutal revenge attacks on its opponents. There can be no doubt that the danger that Daesh poses to Libya and the Libyan people is real, imminent and palpable. Libyan security and military actors, as well as political stakeholders on both sides of the divide, are fully cognizant of the danger posed by Daesh-affiliated militants.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“Permit me to use this platform to reiterate my call on all sides in the conflict to undertake the necessary steps to protect civilians from direct and indiscriminate attacks, facilitate their evacuation and allow unimpeded and safe access to humanitarian aid. I also wish to remind all parties of their obligations to end all forms of arbitrary detention and to protect all those detained from torture or other ill-treatment. While we welcome the release of some ofthe illegally detained persons, we continue to urge all parties to do more to complete that process as soon as possible. When I last briefed the Council, in mid-July (see S/PV.7485), I spoke of the fact that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or Daesh, had asserted control of the strategically located city of Sirte, in central Libya.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“Libya's financial reserves are also being heavily depleted, in large part as the result of unsustainable expenditures on non-productive items. The political-institutional crisis in the country has also manifested itself in growing competition over key financial and other sovereign institutions. Against that grim backdrop of growing hardship and misery stemming from deteriorating security and general lawlessness, widespread violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law continue with impunity across the country. Armed groups from all sides continue to abduct civilians on account of their political opinions or identity, often in the hope of exchanging them in return for a ransom or for the release of fighters or other civilians taken by rival groups. Not even humanitarian aid workers have been spared.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“Some neighbourhoods, such as in Benghazi, are enduring electricity cuts almost around the clock. Close to 250,000 migrants are estimated to be in the country or transiting through it, many of them facing significant protection issues, including arbitrary arrest and detention in abusive conditions, sexual abuse, forced labour, exploitation and extortion. This year alone, more than 2,000 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, the vast majority in a desperate bid to make the sea crossing from Libya to Europe's southern shores. At the same time, the country's economy continues to contract rapidly, the result of a significant reduction in oil revenues due to falling oil prices and low oil production from Libya's oilfields.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“At the national level, the scale of human suffering is staggering for a country with large oil reserves and strong economic potential. According to different United Nations agencies, an estimated 1.9 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance to meet their basic health-care needs. Access to food is now a major problem for some 1.2 million people, mostly in Benghazi and the east. The number of internally displaced persons across Libya now stands at approximately 435,000. The health-care system is on the verge of collapse, with many hospitals across the country overcrowded and operating at severely reduced capacity, and many reporting acute shortages of medicines, vaccines and medical equipment. Power cuts are endemic in many areas of the country.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“Fifteen months since the start of military operations in Benghazi, in the east, it is clear that the confrontations between the parties have gradually transformed into a war of trenches, with no imminent end foreseen. In the interim, the status quo is exacting a heavy toll on the civilian population and on whatever remains of the city's much-damaged infrastructure. More than 100,000 of Benghazi's population remain internally displaced, and 70 per cent of the city's health facilities are either inaccessible or not functioning. The situation in the south is equally appalling. The absence of the State and of a proper functioning security apparatus has exacerbated local competition among tribal groups for power and resources - a conflict that has its roots in decades-long marginalization and neglect by central authorities.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“Mr. Leon: The members of the Security Council have before them the latest report (S/20lS/624) of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, which details the work of the Mission over the past five months. The report paints a mixed picture of evolving security dynamics in Libya. A year since the country's most serious outbreak of armed hostilities and the disruption to the political process, local communities in western Libya are increasingly taking the lead in ceasefire and reconciliation initiatives between different towns and cities, thus contributing to a marked reduction in military tensions across that part of the country and the wider Tripoli area. That is in stark contrast to security dynamics elsewhere in the country.”
2015-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7512 (2015) · source
“A peaceful transition will succeed in Libya only through a significant and coordinated effort in supporting a future Government of national accord and by ensuring that sufficient security is achieved in Tripoli and throughout the country so that the key functions of the public administration can resume. A Government of national accord is the only interlocutor through which the growing threat of Daesh and its affiliate groups can be effectively tackled. I am confident that the international community is ready to offer the needed support based on the priorities that the Libyans will identify. The United Nations stands ready to work with the Libyans to ensure national ownership in that process.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The number of internally displaced persons has doubled since September 2014, and there has been an underfunded humanitarian response. Awbari, Ghat and other areas of the south that require assistance remain largely inaccessible to the international humanitarian community as a result of deteriorating security conditions. Libya is at a critical stage, and it is my duty to seize this opportunity in addressing the Council to urge all parties in Libya to continue to engage constructively in the dialogue process. Spoilers should be held accountable because they bear the responsibility of hindering the political agreement. Once again, we must join together to send an unequivocal message that only through dialogue and political compromise can a peaceful resolution of the conflict be achieved.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“I fear for their safety after Daesh released videos in February and April 2015 depicting the brutal killings of some 50 Christians. The lack of security impedes the resumption of the work of the judiciary in Benghazi, Derna and Sirte. In Tripoli, the final session of the trial of Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadhafi, Abdullah Al-Senussi and 35 other former regime officials for violations committed during the 2011 conflict took place on 20 May, and the verdict is still expected on 28 July. Libya must overcome this dark chapter in its history by holding those responsible for serious crimes accountable in accordance with international standards for due process and fair trial. The overall humanitarian situation continues to cause concern.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“I was encouraged by the recent release of prisoners in various cities during the past weeks. However, all those illegally detained should be released without further delay. I have urged all parties to do so before the end of Ramadan. Such measures are not only a matter of human rights; they could also contribute significantly to facilitating the next phase of the political dialogue and to reconciliation. I would be remiss ifI did not mention the plight of foreign nationals, especially irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, who remain vulnerable to killings, prolonged arbitrary detention, exploitation and sexual violence, among other abuses. A number ofnon-Muslim migrant workers remain missing after having being abducted around Sirte in previous months.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The situation in Benghazi, birthplace of the revolution, remains of serious concern. We must refocus our efforts on that city in particular to try to put an end to the fighting, which has caused so much destruction. In western Libya, periodic outbursts of fighting, including in residential areas, have led to the killing and injury of civilians, including children, in the cities of Al-Zawiya and Al-Ajailat. Armed groups have targeted individuals because of their family or perceived political affiliations. Thousands of Libyans remain illegally detained, including detainees have reportedly been tortured. They include people held solely based on their family or tribal identity, and many have been abducted for the purpose of exchanging them for fighters. Also among them are humanitarian workers.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“In Benghazi, where fighting has again escalated in recent days, the shelling of residential areas has led to the killing and injury of children and medical workers, as well as to further destruction of the civilian infrastructure. The two main hospitals still functioning, the Benghazi Medical Centre and the Jalaa hospital, have been hit. Armed men wielding hand grenades reportedly entered the Medical Centre on 5 July, threatening doctors and other staff. A number of civilians are believed to be trapped, including in Al-Blaad and Al-Sabri, as the warring parties fail to ensure their safe evacuation. More than half of the population in Benghazi is estimated to have left in a bid to escape the violence, and ongoing fighting is impeding humanitarian relief operations.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“We expect to have meetings in the coming weeks in Egypt and other countries of the region, and to convene the track of tribal leaders in Egypt, whose role has been equally important. The role of security actors is another important part of the overall reconciliation effort and will be instrumental in sustaining, supporting and implementing the political agreement. We have listened to their concerns and taken on board their contributions, and it is my intention to convene all those involved in security before the final signing of the agreement. With respect to the human rights situation in the country, violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law have continued to take place with impunity across Libya, with the civilian population bearing the brunt of the protracted fighting.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“In Benghazi, clashes between the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries and Operation Dignity continue, with neither side making significant gains. The Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries' early July offensive has not changed the situation on the ground. In Derna, hard-line Islamists from the Shura Council of Mujahedin in Derna ejected Daesh from the city in June. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has continued its efforts to convene the security track ofthe political dialogue. For that purpose, the Mission has organized a number of meetings with armed groups in Libya and abroad, and intensified its regular bilateral contacts with leaders of armed formations from all sides.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“In western Libya, local ceasefires and reconciliation agreements have improved the security situation and allowed for an improvement in the humanitarian situation. A growing rapprochement between the cities of Misrata, Warshafana, Al-Zawiya and Zintan has been instrumental in facilitating the ceasefires. In central Libya, Daesh-affiliated militants established full control over the city of Sirte and the surrounding coastal area. Misrata forces withdrew to the area of Abu Grain, some 75 kilometres east of Sirte, but continue to carry out air strikes and to block the Daesh advances westward. The prevailing political and security divisions within the country have prevented the development of a coordinated policy to deal with the threat of Daesh affiliates.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The Libyan people deserve a strong Government representing all Libyans, a Government that the international community can and will support, to address the many challenges that the country is facing. Allow me to express my earnest gratitude to Morocco and all of Libya's neighbours for their support and generosity in hosting the many sessions of the dialogue. Their support, and that of many other countries, such as Algeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the League of Arab States and the European Union, has been crucial in building consensus throughout the process. I also wish to thank the African Union and the forum of Libya's neighbouring countries for their support and for having provided important opportunities for crucial discussions and exchanges.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The Libyan people have unequivocally expressed themselves as favouring peace, and I am confident that moderate voices will hear the call and work constructively to end the conflict and bring Libya back to the path of stability, democratic transition and economic recovery. Through the agreement, which has received strong support from the international community, important progress has been made. But I shall not shy away from underscoring that crucial work remains to be done to complete this first and significant development. As we move on to the next phase of negotiations, on the formation of a Government of national accord and the annexes to the agreement, I am confident that all remaining issues will be addressed.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The multiple tracks of this process sought to involve all segments of Libyan society, from municipal representatives to political parties, women and activists who have been engaged since January and gathered in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Switzerland and Morocco, and at the European Union in Brussels. As members of the Council know, the dialogue committee ofthe General National Congress decided not to initial the agreement, although it remains committed to the dialogue process. As I mentioned in Skhirat, I want to emphasize that the door remains open for them to join. I also wish to emphasize and acknowledge their important role in developing the text. The agreement is also the fruit of their hard work, and they should not be on the sidelines as the shared vision for a solution to the crisis continues to take shape.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The text includes guiding principles and puts in place institutions and decision-making mechanisms to steer the transition until the adoption of a permanent constitution. It is intended to culminate in the creation of a modern, democratic State based on the principle of inclusion, the rule of law, separation of powers and respect for human rights. I want to praise the Libyan participants for their achievement after months of tough negotiations. It is a Libyan agreement, developed by Libyan representatives through their relentless efforts and political determination.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“The agreement was initialled by the dialogue committee of the Libyan House of Representatives, boycotting members of the House of Representatives and independent personalities, as well as a number of representatives of political parties and of municipalities from eastern and western Libya who witnessed a ceremony that was attended by the Foreign Minister of Morocco. The initialling of the agreement is only one albeit important step forward in the process of addressing the political and institutional divisions. This initialling also marks a consensus on the text among the parties, with the clear understanding that it will not be further amended, without prejudice to the negotiations on its annexes. The agreement sets out a comprehensive framework that will allow Libya to complete the transition that started in 2011.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“I am pleased to report today that this message has been heard by a number of courageous Libyan leaders, who, on 11 July, in Skhirat, Morocco, initialled a political agreement. This act signalled the adoption of a framework for further talks and has brought the country one step closer to ending the conflict and fulfilling the goals of the 2011 revolution. While some members of the dialogue were not present, the message in Skhirat was one of reconciliation and encouragement for all Libyans to join together to end the unnecessary state of affairs and suffering.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“Mr. Leon: Since my last briefing to the Council (S/PV.7398), the situation in Libya has continued to deteriorate amidst significant political fragmentation and violence. Too many Libyans have died in a fight among brothers, and far too much destruction has taken place. The chaos on the ground has also given way to the expansion of extremist groups, including Daesh affiliates, into a number of areas across the country. This vacuum of authority has also been exploited by human smugglers, and many refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are using the country as a launching area for an unprecedented surge in dangerous crossings of the Mediterranean. The Libyan people have been crying out for an end to the chaos.”
2015-07-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7485 (2015) · source
“Difficult decisions and compromises will be needed. But Libya's leaders must be assured that as they make those decisions, the United Nations and the international community will be their partners in the difficult journey ahead.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source
“The overall situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly, and Libya can no longer afford to allow the political crisis and armed conflict that have gripped the country for much of the past year to continue to fester. Unless Libya's leaders act quickly and decisively, the risks to their country's national unity and territorial integrity are real and imminent. As difficult as the past few years may have been for their country, the Libyan people have not given up on their hopes and aspirations for a modern Libyan democratic State based on the rule oflaw and respect for human rights. Tomorrow's meeting in Morocco is an important opportunity to honour the sacrifices that they have made in their quest for a life of dignity and respect and a country that safeguards the interests of future generations.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source
“In Geneva, representatives ofmunicipal and local councils agreed on a set of confidence-building measures, and we must step up our efforts to implement those and start making a difference in the lives of the Libyan people. The international community should also move quickly to present a clearly articulated strategy in support of the Libyan State and the efforts of the national unity Government to combat the growing threat of terrorism. I believe that will be key to allaying the growing concerns across Libya about what is perceived as the real and imminent danger that extremist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant pose to Libya's overall security and stability.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source
“The ability of a Government of national unity to govern effectively and deliver a notable change in the lives of ordinary Libyans, however, will be largely dependent upon our collective ability, as the international community, to rethink and articulate a clear strategy for delivering technical assistance. The limited progress made over the past three years towards building capacities at all levels in the Libyan State should serve as a stark warning of the huge challenges ahead. The worsening humanitarian situation in the country, including in Warshafana, Benghazi and Nafusa, calls for a stronger commitment on the part of the international community to addressing the needs of the people who have been victims of this conflict.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source
“Within just the span of a few weeks since the first round of talks convened, on 15 January, Libya's political leaders have come a long way towards injecting hope that an end to their country's political crisis and armed conflict is possible. The sense of expectation and anticipation on the part of all segments of the Libyan population is profound. While the onus remains on Libya's leaders to agree on a road map for a resumption of the political process and an end to the conflict, the support of the international community will be critical to the successful implementation of a political agreement, should the parties conclude one.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source
“The role of the United Nations has been to facilitate the talks without any imposition, while maintaining the utmost respect for Libyan ownership of the process. In our efforts to ensure transparency of the process, every participant will be required to consult with its respective constituency before any final agreement is formally endorsed. On behalfofthe Secretary-General, allow me to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to the Council for its unwavering support to the Libyan political dialogue, as well as to all Member States and other international partners that have been generous in extending financial, logistical and other support to the process.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source
“Moreover, the systematic campaign of misinformation that recently surfaced in various Libyan media outlets regarding the dialogue and its outcomes is symptomatic of the deep mistrust that continues to manifest itself on the Libyan political landscape.Only a few days ago I met with a sizeable number of members of the House of Representatives to discuss the dialogue process and dissipate doubts regarding its scope and transparency. In that context, I would like to take this opportunity to once again reiterate the assurances I have given publicly and in private to all parties in Libya that this is a Libyan-Libyan dialogue that is anchored in the principle of mutual consensus among the parties.”
2015-03-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7398 (2015) · source