YouSaid · the spoken record

Salamé

lines on the record: 281
first: 2017-08-28
most recent: 2020-01-30
sittings or episodes: 15
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

“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 ofhostilities 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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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 ofhostilities 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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“There were certainly some violations but, broadly speaking, the truce held for the duration of the Bid 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 Bid 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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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. Ireiterate 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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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 ofshells 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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“Mr. Salame: 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.”
2019-09-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8611 (2019) · source
“This organ bears a particular responsibility to ensure that Libya does not fracture into weak and unstable pieces but remains the collected strength of the Libya that united in 1951. Only with the imprimatur of the Security Council can we, together, help the Libyans move past this dark and violent episode and towards a more hopeful and promising future.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Since the outbreak of the conflict, national Governments and regional organizations have called on the Libyan parties to stop the fighting and resume the political process. For that, I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States. People in Libyan cities stop me to convey a clear message. The majority of Libyans believe that it is now time for the Security Council to join this chorus and decisively call for an end to this needless war before it grows into a full- blown civil war with serious, potentially existential consequences for Libya and its neighbours. Almost 70 years ago, the United Nations decided to create an independent Libya.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Much of the groundwork for these efforts was laid during the military unification talks sponsored by the Egyptian Government, in addition to the UNSMIL supported steps taken, following last September's violence in Tripoli, to reinforce and reform the Interior Ministry. We urgently need to revive that momentum. Stopping the war will require the will of the parties and the support of the international community. Should the parties agree to silence the guns, the United Nations and international partners should stand ready to provide material and technical support, enabling the parties to negotiate a comprehensive agreement on cessation of hostilities and appropriate mechanisms for its implementation and monitoring.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Measures must also be taken to combat the rampant corruption that has infested almost all elements of the State. Economic reform should be coupled with comprehensive reform of the security sector that would allow the Libyan authorities to fight terrorism and secure the country's borders. Structural security issues, namely, the fragmentation of armed groups and the proliferation of small arms, combined with the absence of a unified and professional army, have not been addressed since the fall of the former regime. The Libyan State cannot be effective without having an undisputed monopoly over force of arms. That will require collection of weapons outside of the control of the State and clear civilian oversight over the security structures.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“The solution, therefore, will need to factor in much- needed structural economic reform and an equitable method to distribute the country's vast wealth. We have taken a step forward in reinvigorating the audit of the Central Bank and its parallel eastern branch, which will be vital in promoting the unification of the bank and increasing transparency on how national funds are being spent. We have also devised concrete proposals to allow the largest number of Libyans to benefit from oil income, replacing predation with fairness and self-interested disbursement with welfare for all. Robust efforts will also be required to combat the smuggling of people, fuel, weapons and drugs - sources of wealth for the armed groups and associated criminal elements.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Such a consensus was on the verge of being built in the run-up to the national conference in April. It is past time for Libyans to end this long season of mutual suspicion, fear and division. This triple action will require consensus in the Council and among the Member States that exert influence on the ground. As for the Libyans, they need to listen to their better angels. They are now fighting the wars of others and in so doing destroying their country. Proposals to revive political talks should be the basis for the reunification of Libyan national institutions. I believe that a comprehensive solution to the Libyan conflict will require tackling the underlying drivers of what is ultimately, though not exclusively, a war over resources.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“The truce should be accompanied by confidence-building measures between the parties, to include the exchange of prisoners, the release of those arbitrarily detained or abducted, and the exchange of mortal remains. Secondly, following the truce, I request a high- level meeting of concerned countries to cement the cessation of hostilities, work together to enforce the strict implementation of the arms embargo to prevent the further flow of weapons to the Libyan theatre, and promote strict adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law by the Libyan parties. Thirdly, the international meeting should be followed by a Libyan meeting of leading and influential personalities from all over the country to agree on comprehensive elements for the way forward.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Sergewa must be released immediately and those responsible for her abduction must be held accountable. Abductions have also risen at an alarming rate in Tripoli, with numerous Government officials, including the Deputy Director of the Food and Drug Administration, being kidnapped by armed groups to settle scores and extort ransoms. Nearly four months into third war since 2011, it should be abundantly clear to all that the risks of either an open-ended low- intensity conflict or a full escalation to outright war on the shores of the southern Mediterranean are equally unacceptable. The decision to stop the war cannot be postponed indefinitely. I therefore submit the following three-part immediate action to stop the conflict. First, I call for a truce to be declared for Eid Al-Adha, which will fall on or about 10 August.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“I am particularly worried to see that health workers and facilities have been repeatedly targeted, with 19 ambulances and four health facilities struck, many medical doctors and health workers killed, including five yesterday, and others wounded. Impunity should not prevail, especially for those who attack hospitals and ambulances. Protecting civilians and humanitarian workers requires sanctions against those committing crimes. There has been an unacceptable spike in enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions since the outset of hostilities. On 17 July, elected House of Representatives member Siham Sergewa was violently abducted from her home in Benghazi by an unknown group. I have raised Ms. Sergewa's case with the authorities in the east, including yesterday with General Haftar. Ms.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Southern communities face terrible fuel and electricity shortages and an absence of bank notes, in addition to a renewed security vacuum and an increase in terrorist attacks. UNSMIL has re-established an operational presence in the east, with the reopened United Nations hub in Benghazi. My Deputy for political affairs conducted an eight-day mission to the east, covering 1,000 kilometers and visiting five cities to demonstrate UNSMIL's commitment to serving all Libyans. We are working hard to open a similar hub in Sebha, the capital of the south. In the course of the current fighting, serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have been committed by all parties. Residential areas have been hit by indiscriminate shelling and targeted air strikes.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“There is a serious danger of the weaponization of oil in this conflict, the consequences of which would be disastrous to the Libyan economy. The conflict situation has limited the ability of Libyan authorities to meet the basic needs of the population. International and national humanitarian partners are providing emergency relief, including in response to floods in Ghat in early June. I led an exceptional humanitarian visit to Ghat on 13 June, where United Nations agencies delivered emergency food, water, sanitation supplies and other provisions needed in the town. The situation in the south of the country is dire, with a rise in communal violence, particularly in the city of Murzuq.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“With Libya already in peak demand during the hot summer, deficits in water and electricity supplies have been aggravated by the fighting and deliberate attacks targeting the Great Man-Made River facilities. While Libya's oil continues to flow, the risks to its continued production are as grave as those that imperil the supply of water and electricity. Earlier this month, the National Oil Corporation declared force majeure after valves in the Hamada area were closed by an armed group. The Mission used its good offices to facilitate a quick resolution to the dispute; force majeure was lifted several days later. The parallel eastern National Oil Corporation continues its efforts to sell oil, in violation of Security Council resolutions.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Since the start of the conflict in and around Tripoli, the United Nations, in support of local efforts, has provided humanitarian assistance to over 75,000 people. However, I regret to report that only 30 per cent of the $200 million requested under the 2019 humanitarian response plan has been received to date. The humanitarian community will be unable to respond to increased needs and assist about 100,000 highly vulnerable people impacted by the conflict if no additional funding is received. Critical infrastructure and vital installations that provide water, electricity and other essential services to the population have been damaged by the war.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“It is high time the warring parties cease all hostilities, redeploy their forces and focus on the common threat before Libya becomes more of a safe haven for terrorist organizations. While I can report that recently our warnings have been heeded, the parties must be urged to decisively dissociate themselves from all violent extremist elements and actively prevent them fromjoining the conflict. While UNSMIL had to reduce its footprint in Libya due to the security situation, I have decided that the Mission should not leave Libya. That allows the United Nations to respond to growing humanitarian needs and human rights concerns and remain fully engaged with all interlocutors regarding de-escalation of the fighting and the resumption of the political process.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“The security vacuum created by the conflict in and around Tripoli continues to be exploited by Da'esh in remote areas in the country's southern and central regions. Among other incidents, Da'esh claimed responsibility on 2 June for a car-bomb attack in Derna that resulted in 11 wounded. Even more worrisome are the indications that the arsenal of weapons being delivered by foreign supporters to one side or the other is either falling into the hands of terrorist groups or being sold to them. Some extremist elements have sought legitimacy by joining the battle. This is nothing short of a recipe for disaster, not only for the safety and security of Libyans themselves but also for that of Libya's neighbours and for international peace and security.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“The weapons discovered after the retaking of Gheryan illustrate the advanced systems that are provided. There is no doubt that external support has been instrumental in the intensification of air strikes. I also note with concern that the imported weaponry is being accompanied by foreign personnel working as pilots, trainers and technicians. This reliance on external support is a conflict driver. More than ever, Libyans are now fighting the wars of other countries that appear content to fight to the last Libyan and to see the country entirely destroyed in order to settle their own scores. Without the full cooperation of all Member States regarding the implementation of the measures related to the arms embargo in accordance with resolution 2473 (2019), the flow of weapons to Libya will continue to fuel this needless conflict.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“I note that the owners and editors-in-chief of those publications and television stations have invited individuals who use despicable language of incitement, aired and published calls to violence and assassinations, spread intentionally false news and allowed ad hominem attacks. I urge those who dwell in their self-contained silos of enmity to cease spewing hatred and start talking face-to-face with their compatriots. Libya has become a terrain for experimentation with new military technologies and recycling of old weapons. Armed drones, armoured vehicles and pick- up trucks fitted with heavy armaments, machine guns, recoilless rifles and mortar and rocket launchers have been recently transferred to Libya with the complicity, and indeed outright support, of foreign Governments.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“In the same vein, I am troubled by the insistence of authorities in eastern Libya to press forward with the establishment of a municipal elections committee parallel to the national body for municipal elections that already exists. Efforts to delegitimize the work of the national body short-change Libyan voters themselves, given the paucity of expertise and resources available to the parallel institutions, cause confusion at the local level and, ultimately, impede the country's fragile transition to democracy. The hatred and invective on social media and satellite television stations is fuelling the violence on the ground.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“From 13 to 15 July, under the auspices of the Egyptian Parliament, a meeting that brought together 72 members of the House of Representatives affirmed the role of the House in a political solution to the Libyan crisis and called for the formation of a Government of national, unity without any mention of the need to cease all hostilities. While I commend the efforts of those who met in Cairo to seek an end to the conflict and form a unified Government, I urge them to reach out to their fellow members of Parliament to forge a truly national project. I discourage the trend of establishing a parallel parliament in Tripoli.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“The recent uptick in violence may worryingly presage a new phase in the military campaign, but I do not believe that will fundamentally alter the strategic stalemate. The parties still believe that they can achieve their objectives through military means. Prime Minister Serraj and General Haftar have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to a future political and electoral process, but have yet to take practical steps to stop the fighting. The LNA maintains that it will not stop its attacks until Tripoli is conquered, while the GNA forces insist that they can push General Haftar's forces back to eastern Libya. Libya's present and future need not be taken hostage by the warring parties. While engaging with political leaders and armed groups, UNSMIL is also actively engaging a wide range of constituencies and hosting second-track dialogues.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“I note with alarm the increasing frequency of attacks on Mitiga airport, which serves as the only functioning airport in the greater Tripoli area. Several of these attacks have come perilously close to hitting civilian aircraft with passengers on board. I am afraid that with the almost daily bombardment, luck will run out. I call upon the authorities in Tripoli to cease using the airport for military purposes, and for the attacking forces to immediately stop targeting it. Pro-GNA forces retook the city of Gheryan on 26 June, located approximately 80 kilometres south of Tripoli. It was a notable development, as Gheryan was the first city that the LNA forces entered during their march to Tripoli in April. There are unconfirmed allegations that human rights abuses might have taken place there, which we are now investigating.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Towards this end, I urge the Council now to call upon the authorities in Tripoli to take the long-delayed but much-needed strategic decision to free those who are detained in these centres. UNSMIL has devised a plan for an organized and gradual closure of all detention centres and seeks the Security Council's support for its implementation. So far in 2019, nearly 4,500 refugees and migrants have disembarked in Libya and faced serious risks of detention, arbitrary arrest and being trapped by the fighting. The international community can prevent another tragedy. Iurge European countries to respond to the Secretary-General's repeated pleas, revisit policies and move migrants and refugees to safety.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“To make matters worse, following United Nations- supported efforts to move the migrants to more secure locations, authorities have in recent days returned more than 200 migrants to the bombed facility. The tragedy of up to 150 migrant deaths at sea on 25 July again underlines the urgent need to address the root causes of the migrant issue and migrants" immediate suffering. The United Nations humanitarian agencies have worked hard to mitigate the terrible conditions in these detention centres. Over 5,000 refugees and migrants are currently being held at detention centres run by a Government agency; some 3,800 of these persons are exposed to the fighting. What is required is that these facilities be shuttered.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“There is increased recruitment and use of foreign mercenaries, alongside the use ofheavy weapons and ground attacks. Forces on both sides have failed to observe their obligations under international humanitarian law. The most tragic example of indiscriminate attacks was the air strike that hit a migrant detention centre in Tajoura on 2 and 3 July, killing 53 and injuring at least 87, including children. What is even more appalling is that the precise coordinates of the Tajoura detention centre, and other such centres, were shared by the United Nations with the parties following a previous incident in May. While the vast majority of the fatalities were due to the air strike, several victims were cruelly struck down by those guarding the centre as they attempted to flee.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Tens of thousands have crossed the border to Tunisia, seeking safety for their families. More than 100,000 men, women and children are immediately exposed to the front lines, and there are over 400,000 more in areas directly affected by clashes. The war has worsened humanitarian conditions and hindered access to food, health and other life-saving services. Ignoring calls for de-escalation, the parties have intensified air campaigns with precision air strikes by aircraft and armed drones. The geographical scope of the violence has also spread. For the first time, on 26 July, Government of National Accord (GNA) forces launched an air attack on the main rear base of the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the Jufra region. On 27 July, General Haftar's forces launched air strikes on a GNA airbase in Misrata.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“Mr. Salame: Allow also me to congratulate Peru on its presidency of the Security Council this month. Before beginning my briefing, I would like to pay tribute to the late President of Tunisia, Mr. Beji Ca'id Essebsi. President Essebsi was a great supporter of the United Nations and was an active and committed partner to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in its efforts to end the Libyan crisis through Tunisia's generous hosting ofthe Mission. I will personally miss his wisdom, frankness and friendship. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace. The armed conflict in Libya shows no signs of abating. The war around Tripoli has already left nearly 1,100 dead, including 106 civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in the capital and neighbouring districts as a result of the fighting.”
2019-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8588 (2019) · source
“You need to stop the fighting and stop it now, for the sake of your loved ones, for the sake of your country and for the sake of international peace and security." I therefore request this organ to take up its responsibility, urge the silencing of the guns and call on the warring parties to engage with the Mission to ensure a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities and a return to an inclusive, United Nations-led political process.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“I fear that without immediate action to stop the flow of arms and pressure on the Libyan parties to the conflict to enable a return to serious dialogue, Libya will descend into civil war, which could potentially lead to a Hobbesian all-against-all state of chaos or partition of the country. Full civil war in Libya is not inevitable, but it may occur by the will of some parties and the inaction of others. I hear Libyans resigning themselves to a conflict of many months or even many years. My duty, and that of this family of nations, is to tell them: "No.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“A better future is still possible, but we all must be seized with the fierce urgency of now while the front lines remain on the outskirts of Tripoli and before the battle moves, God forbid, to the capital's more densely populated neighbourhoods. That will require the concerted and immediate action of the international community. Without the international and regional stakeholders recognizing that Libya is not a prize for the strongest, but a country of 6.5 million people who deserve peace and the right to collectively determine their own path forward, the future of Libya will be bleak.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“They are right; there is a before and after 4 April, and we, as impartial mediators, need to adjust that process in order to bridge the deep gap of mistrust that has prevailed since that date. Our consultations with the parties, as well as with men and women of influence, have not ceased and we struggle to maintain a minimum of political fluidity among the various groups, which, sooner rather than later, will need to come back and devise together a better future for their children and a more peaceful formula for sharing power and resources. To that end, Libyans need the international community to work in unison to mitigate and alleviate their divisions, instead of amplifying them.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“It is vital to keep the pilot light of democracy alive in Libya, and I appeal to the Council to lend its unqualified support to the continuation of the municipal election process. There is no military solution to Libya. This is not a cliche', it is a fact, and it is high time for those who have harboured that illusion to open their eyes and adjust themselves to the reality. Libya's mosaic of communities cannot be governed without alliances and relationships stretching across the country. It was to be through the national conference bringing those myriad communities together that hope for an inclusive, peaceful and prosperous future existed. I hear many Libyans telling us that the political process cannot ignore the present war as if it were not taking place.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“This illegal attempt risks dividing the National Oil Corporation, which remains the primary source of revenue for the country and the national social safety net. We should not discount Libyan resilience in the face of this tragic turn of events. Since 30 March, Libyan citizens have shown admirable resolve in democratically electing new municipal councils in 22 municipalities in western and southern Libya. Eighteen of these councils have already sworn in their mayors. It is unfortunate that some elections have had to be postponed for security reasons. In that regard, I note that efforts of the parallel Government in the east to appoint mayors or block municipal elections from being held are a denial ofthe rights of all Libyans to elect their local representatives.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“Another casualty of the conflict is Libya's infrastructure, including electricity and water. Already unable to meet demand, the water supply to the capital and the whole of north-west Libya has been weaponized as armed groups have cut off the Great Man-Made River to extract concessions. That act put tens of thousands of people in immediate danger and may constitute a war crime. Such acts must be condemned in the strongest terms. The only positive economic indicator is that all parties have so far acted in the national interest by not impeding the oil supply. However, there are indications that the eastern branch of the National Oil Corporation is again attempting to export oil, in violation of the sanctions regime.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“The Mission has established a mechanism to monitor hate speech online and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has already referred a number of cases of incitement to Facebook. The United Nations maintains an active presence on the ground in Libya, in Tripoli and through our hub in Benghazi. Naturally, given the situation, we have scaled down our non-essential personnel, but we remain in Libya, alongside the Libyan people, to deliver as best we can. Over 42,000 people have received some form of assistance through United Nations programmes since the start of the conflict. Food prices are rising across the country as shortages start to occur. Insecurity and the resource demands of the parties to the conflict are exacerbating those shortages, particularly with regard to fuel.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source
“I therefore call for the Council's unequivocal support in insisting on the application of international humanitarian law for all parties to the conflict. We need to demonstrate to those who commit violations that impunity will not prevail. We need to sanction those who use the fog of war to violently settle personal or political scores. As the conflict rolls on, Libya's social fabric is unravelling at an alarming rate. Calls for a halt to the fighting and reconciliation amongst the warring parties are being drowned out by internal and regional parties that have weaponized social media to drive fake news, false narratives and expressions of hatred that more deeply divide the population.”
2019-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8530 (2019) · source