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

“One of the country's underlying dysfunctions is the division of its main financial institutions. To promote reunification and financial accountability, UNSMIL proceeded with the request made by the Presidency Council to the Security Council on 10 July for a financial review of the Central Bank of Libya and its parallel branch in the east. Yesterday, I hosted the second meeting between Central Bank Governor Al-Kabir and Deputy Governor Al-Hebri, at which an agreement was reached on the terms of reference and the way ahead. Here too, the upcoming Palermo conference could provide an opportunity to gain more practical support for establishing a system for redistributing national wealth to the benefit not of overnight millionaires but of the entire population. Security and the economy are two of the three pillars required for stability.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“The imposition of fees on foreign currency transactions caused an almost 25 per cent drop in the black-market exchange rate. Closing the gap between the official and black-market rate reduces the margin for exploitation. Prices have dropped for basic goods - sugar, bread, school supplies and second- hand cars. Many of the long-standing concerns have been mitigated, with the liquidity crisis receding and the queues outside banks shrinking. Where there used to be deficits, the public coffers now enjoy a surplus. That was only the first step. More must be done to further normalize the situation and prevent gains from being rolled back. The phasing-out of fuel subsidies for direct cash transfers will increase the real income of poor families while preventing billions of dinars from falling into the hands of smugglers.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“The Libyan conflict is in large part a conflict over resources, and until that is resolved, stability will remain elusive. Libya is wealthy. Oil production reaches up to 1.3 million barrels of oil per day. This country of 6.5 million people has seen revenues of over $13 billion in the first half of the year alone. However, those figures obfuscate the truth. Libyans have been increasingly impoverished, while criminals employ violence and patronage networks to steal billions from the national coffers. Ironically, the violence in Tripoli offered a unique opportunity to introduce long-awaited and much-needed economic reforms. On 12 September, a range of economic measures were launched in order to improve the living conditions of the Libyan people and reduce opportunities for militias in the shadow economy.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“There is now a window of opportunity to address the tremendous challenges that Libyan security institutions have faced since 2011, and UNSMIL has seized it. The forthcoming conference on Libya, to be hosted by the Government of Italy in Palermo, is an occasion for Member States to offer tangible support for the training of professional security forces. I thank the Member States that have already offered assistance. Libyans should be helped to turn the page on their reliance on armed groups for their protection. In the medium term, we should also contribute to unifying and restructuring a professional national army and contribute to the Egyptian-led process. The violence in September reflects the underlying fragility in the country.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“The phenomena of armed men assaulting medical facilities and personnel, extorting money from financial institutions and women waiting in line for banking services are immoral, illegal and criminal. That must cease immediately. That was my message on Tuesday when I visited Al-Jalaa Hospital for Women and Childbirth to express the solidarity of the United Nations with staff, after health workers there were assaulted by members of an armed gang. The appointment of a new Minister of the Interior signalled a decision to seriously engage on security in a robust and more determined manner. I am pleased to report that the Minister's first decree was to establish a human rights unit within the Ministry.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“While the crisis prompted the issuance of a decree ordering the judiciary to review the files of the thousands of prisoners who have been languishing in jail, only 255 of those prisoners have been released. That process needs to be expedited and the armed groups must return control of the detention facilities to the authorities. Prisons that have effectively become for-profit private enterprises operated by armed groups under State cover should be immediately shuttered. The Mission has established a special task force on prison reform. The unity of the Council was invaluable in its support of our efforts to broker the ceasefire. The threat and application of sanctions to those involved in violent or criminal action appear to have had a tangible effect in altering the behaviour of many armed actors. Impunity must end.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“While armed groups from outside the city should not attempt to invade it again, armed groups operating within the city must stop using their position to penetrate, intimidate or control the sovereign institutions. Looking forward, the city should be protected by disciplined, regular police forces. Success in the capital is crucial, not only because it houses most of the Government institutions and 30 per cent of the Libyan population, but also because what works in Tripoli can be a model to be repeated in other cities across the country. Among the drivers of conflict are the appalling conditions in the prisons. Hundreds of Libyans and foreigners are illegally and inhumanely detained and used to extract ransoms. Some prisons have become incubators for extremist ideology and terrorist groups.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“The new security arrangements committee for greater Tripoli crafted a comprehensive security plan for the capital that has received the endorsement of the Presidency Council. Armed group elements will withdraw from key installations and official buildings, while reserve forces will be deployed on the edge of the city. A joint operations centre has been working well to coordinate that process to move forward. The implementation has indeed started. Several armed groups have withdrawn from positions in ministries and indicated a readiness to hand over the port and civilian terminal of Mitiga airport to State control. There is a fragile but palpable sense of improvement across the capital. The concept that we have been working on is clear and balanced.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“Mr. Salame: Allow me to congratulate the People's Republic of China on its presidency of the Security Council this month. I am grateful for this opportunity to brief the Council on our work in Libya. Since my previous briefing, in early September (see S/PV.8341), the violence in Tripoli finally ended. In the one month of fighting, over 120 lives were lost, including those of 34 women and children. As a result of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the parties agreed to stop the violence. On 25 September, most of the attackers from outside the city withdrew. Since then, we have sought to transform a challenge into an opportunity. We have dedicated ourselves to the consolidation ofthe ceasefire - on the ground and at the political level - to minimize the prospect of a similar crisis.”
2018-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8394 (2018) · source
“If legislation is not produced soon, we will close the chapter on that approach. There are other ways to achieve peaceful political change, and we will embrace them with no hesitation but, indeed, with enthusiasm. I am fully aware that the members of the Council are not mere spectators to the Libyan's crisis; members want it over as soon as possible. Their unified, determined and vocal position is what the Libyans need to hear if the citizens of that country are to enjoy the peace and tranquility that they are desperately looking for.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Many members ofthe House of Representatives are failing to do theirjob. They seek to subvert the political process to their own ends, behind the guise of procedure. It is clear that they simply have no intention of relinquishing their positions. They have put in place legal provisions to maintain their authority in perpetuity. For the personal ambitions of a few, all Libya's citizens have paid a steep price. I welcome any rapprochement between the two Houses and take note of their recent meetings in Tripoli, but that activity must be directed towards advancing the political process, not towards ensuring their longevity. In line with instructions from the Secretary- General, I have been exhausting the traditional avenues to move the legislative process forward. So far, they have either been blocked or designed to lead nowhere.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“The members of the Government of National Accord assumed their roles not through elections but by appointment, and many of them have been inactive for a long while. If national elections are to take place, a number of conditions must be met. They will require great effort to achieve, but they are achievable. The United Nations is working hard to put those conditions in place and thanks the international community for its support. Time and time again, the House of Representatives has promised to produce referendum and election legislation. After three sessions dedicated to the referendum law and numerous delays, the House of Representatives has failed to deliver that legislation. Those who have an interest in maintaining the status quo have spared no efforts to resist the needed change. I will not mince words.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“When the political process grinds to a halt, some will believe that there is opportunity to force change through the barrel of a gun. The Libyan public has made a clear decision on how this change should come to pass - peacefully and democratically through elections. That was widely reflected during the national conference consultations, a report on which is currently being prepared. It should come as no surprise that the Libyans want change in their political leadership. The members of the House of Representatives were elected over four years ago by around 15 per cent of the population. The members ofthe High Council of State, which represents a fraction of the members of the General National Congress, were elected six years ago.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“In response to the Security Council's request of 19 July to the Mission to provide suggestions on the modalities of such a review, I have been engaged with Libyan and international partners. I convened the Governor of the internationally recognized Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli and the head of the parallel Central Bank in the east for a meeting at the UNSMIL office to agree on the broad parameters of the review. On 24 August, the Secretary- General submitted to the Council my proposals for how to proceed. That preliminary process has created hope, with many Libyans welcoming the meeting of the two officials - something that has not happened in the past four years. That was a first step towards unifying the Central Bank, which is a crucial step towards unifying the country.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“We urge action on the agreed upon economic reforms, which are essential and overdue. I call upon the Central Bank of Libya and the Government of National Accord to immediately move forward on currency exchange rate and subsidy reforms. We are also committed to advocating for a more equitable distribution of wealth in Libya, focused not on appeasing groups based on their military strength, but on providing for citizens based on their need. UNSMIL believes that the request of Prime Minister Faiez Serraj for international support for a financial review is a valuable opportunity to bring transparency and accountability to how the country's wealth is managed.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Our public criticism of the predatory behaviour of armed groups in the capital was warmly welcomed by Libyans, who are fed up with living on the poverty line while their national resources are looted by gunmen turned millionaires. Our stand has produced a salutary impact in many cases. The State capture must end - not to the benefit of other armed groups, but with the full control of the legitimate authorities. The Council's support on that is crucial. The Mission's second priority is to address the economic issues that underpin the crisis and erode the daily lives of citizens across the country. I would like to state plainly that if an end is not put to the plundering, there is little chance that we can move either the economic reforms or the political process.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“UNSMIL will endeavour to facilitate that effort in an inclusive and pragmatic fashion, laying the foundations for longer-term efforts to stabilize the country through the reunification of the security sector institutions. The previous security configuration empowered groups that acted in a predatory manner against the residents of the capital, against the State and against sovereign institutions. Indeed, members of some armed groups, nominally acting under the Ministry of the Interior, have kidnapped, tortured and murdered employees of sovereign institutions, including the National Oil Corporation and the Libyan Investment Authority.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“To restore stability to Libya, there is an urgent need to establish strong and unified civilian and military institutions that work for the benefit of all citizens. The Mission is now focusing its work in two intertwined areas. First, and in order to underpin the ceasefire, we are working to revise the security arrangements in Tripoli in order to reduce the influence of groups that use arms to achieve their parochial goals. In the coming days, UNSMIL will continue to hold broad consultations to strengthen the ceasefire and assist in the establishment of a monitoring mechanism. At the same time, we will continue to work with our Libyan counterparts to identify concrete steps towards reshaping security in the capital and developing more sustainable arrangements.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Abuse and exploitation abound within prisons and detention centres, which we continue to have great difficulty accessing, both in the east and in the west. Refugees and asylum seekers in detention centres have resorted to hunger strikes as a means to resolve their bleak living circumstances. That situation should, however, not be used as an excuse for any armed group to open the gates to terrorists and criminals interned or to displace them to other locations. All the while, the citizens of the country suffer deteriorating standards of living, as they have for the past years. Now, for many, every day is a personal emergency. We must not return to the status quo ante. In crisis lies the opportunity to tackle the underlying causes.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Over 1,000 fighters have been involved in the hostilities, risking the south becoming a regional battleground and safe haven for foreign armed groups. The recent agreement signed between Chad, the Sudan, the Niger and Libya needs to be implemented so that Libya does not also become an alternative battleground for others. The signatories have asked for support from the international community for the implementation of those agreements, and I hope that Council members will positively consider their requests. In the eastern city of Derna, sporadic clashes and air raids continue. The United Nations is facilitating humanitarian assistance to affected families in the city. I reiterate my call upon all parties to exercise restraint and protect the lives of innocent civilians.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“The forced displacement of people is unacceptable, and of those already displaced, doubly so. That was made clear to all those tempted by it. After the horrendous attack on the High National Electoral Commission of 2 May, on 23 August the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for an attack near Zliten, which claimed the lives of four police officers. ISIL presence and operations in Libya are only spreading. I alert the Council of the possibility that Libya may become a shelter for terrorist groups of all persuasions and ask the Council to help address with that looming threat. In recent weeks, the Chadian Government and Chadian opposition forces have been fighting one another, operating from southern Libya.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“The events surrounding the oil crescent region in June and July effectively threatened to split the country. In the past few weeks, the nation has lurched from one emergency to another. On 10 August, armed groups forcibly evicted displaced Tawerghan families from the Tariq Al-Matar camp for internally displaced persons. Some Tawerghans were killed and injured. Homes were demolished and those Libyans were forced to flee, leaving them homeless for a second time in seven years. Despite the welcome return of several more families to Tawergha - totalling approximately 100 families by the end of August - basic infrastructure and services are still lacking, making a dignified return very difficult. We have warned all armed groups against any repetition of that totally unlawful behaviour.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Migrants were either trapped in detention centres or turned onto the street. The city stood on the brink of all-out war. On4 September, the UnitedNations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) brokered a ceasefire between the major parties to the conflict. That has effectively halted the fighting and started the restoration of some order to the city. The Mission is now working to protect that fragile peace and enable it to take root. As a first step, we are offering technical assistance and good offices in support of the ceasefire. Groups that violate the ceasefire must be held to account. The United Nations and the international community are watching each and every one of them. The time for impunity is behind us. We will not allow a repeat of 2014. This outbreak of violence is but the latest in a series of crises that have engulfed Libya.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“Mr. Salame: I would like to congratulate the United States of America on its presidency of the Security Council this month and thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to update the Council. In each and every briefing I have given to the Council, I have stated that the status quo in Libya is untenable. The violence that consumed the capital beginning on 26 August shattered the facade of calm that had prevailed in Tripoli since May 2017. Tanks and heavy artillery were deployed into residential neighbourhoods. Sixty-one Libyans were killed and 159 injured. Many of those who died were civilians, including children. Families were forced to flee their homes. Looting and crime became commonplace as gangs took to the streets. Hundreds of criminals broke out of prison.”
2018-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8341 (2018) · source
“The status quo in Libya cannot be sustained. The country is in decline. The crisis in the oil crescent gave us a glimpse of what is in store if tangible progress is not made now: economic collapse, the breakdown of public services and more frequent and intense outbreaks of violence. In a country where terrorists lurk; where criminals are waiting to engage in the trafficking in migrants; where foreign mercenaries are increasing in numbers; and where the oil industry hangs in the balance, this situation should be of concern to all. In order to help the Libyan people chart a course to the future they deserve, the unified support of the Council, Member States involved in Libya and our regional partner organizations is vital.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“The United Nations is working with the Libyan authorities, in particular with municipalities across the country, to address the challenges. However, without a resolution to the country's underlying economic problems, the situation will remain an uphill battle. The human rights situation and the humanitarian needs of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers remain dire. While some improvements have been made in official detention centres, there are many unofficial installations to which we do not have access. I am grateful for the continued support of the members of the Council and of key Member States actively engaged in supporting an end to the crisis in Libya. I warmly note the arrival of the new Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya, Stephanie Williams, as a further reinforcement of our efforts.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Additional assistance will be required, in particular in the areas of health, shelter and mine action. With regard to the city of Tawergha, only a small number of people have returned. The conditions for a safe and dignified return remain insufficient, as basic infrastructure and services are lacking. At the start of the month, demining teams were finally allowed to enter the area and commence work. The current plight of internally displaced persons is unsustainable from a political and financial perspective, given the lack of available resources to support them. They should be given the right to integrate in their host communities as efforts are made to facilitate their return. Libya must urgently reverse the deterioration in public service delivery.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Concerns remain about human rights abuses, including summary executions and extrajudicial arrests. I reiterate the call on all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law, including by taking all feasible precautions to protect civilians and ensure that the wounded and sick * civilians and those who participated in the hostilities - are cared for, including through medical evacuations. As in other areas in Libya where conflict has erupted, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and partners are providing humanitarian assistance. Despite impeded access, life-saving materials have been delivered, such as medicine by the World Health Organization and assistance to displaced persons, including 1,000 kits for children.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“There is much work to be done to refurbish the premises and, accordingly, concerted efforts are being made by the Government, the United Nations and international partners to renovate the buildings and replace the many items destroyed during the attack. I am happy to report that yesterday the Government of National Accord approved 66 million Libyan dinars to fund the elections. The decision of the Security Council to impose sanctions on six leaders of human trafficking networks was a positive step towards accountability for exploitation and human rights abuses. Such progress notwithstanding, impunity continues to reign in Libya. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the escalation of fighting and violence, as witnessed over the past two months in Derna and elsewhere in the country.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Once we reach a reasonable level of conformity of views among the Libyans, which we are working on, the international community must stand together behind that Libyan vision. If even a single Member State chooses to act alone, the process will not advance. Technical preparations are under way for elections that are scheduled to be held at the end of the year. Officers are preparing and the planning process is moving along swiftly. Electoral security arrangements are being worked on, including by the newly established unit for those matters in the Ministry of the Interior. While the terrorist attack against the High National Elections Commission devastated much of its headquarters, I am pleased to report that on 12 June, the Commission was granted a new compound.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Since my last briefing (see S/PV.8263), I have engaged in broad consultations on the matter of how and when to establish a new Constitution for the country, while speaking with senior Libyan judges and constitutional experts from every side, as well as with the Libyan people. Both experts and the public agree that a clear constitutional framework is a national priority. However, they are divided on how to proceed. Many would like to see a referendum on the current draft constitution, while others completely reject the text. It is a complex issue with no easy options or straightforward solutions. It is exactly because of that complexity that the international community must show unity.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Libyans are demanding the holding of elections and becoming impatient with those who are finding multiple ways and means to postpone that moment. I recently met with the Speaker of the House. He promised a vote on a law for the referendum of the Constitution within the next two weeks and that electoral legislation would be voted on immediately thereafter. I truly hope that that pledge will be honoured this time. I urge the members the Council to pressure the House of Representatives to deliver on its historic responsibility and achieve that goal in a timely fashion. A constitutional framework is required to hold elections and end the transition.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“That deadline is congruent with the action plan. I urge them to stand by their commitment and for others to join them. Furthermore, the deadline that they agreed on for the adoption of legislation necessary for elections is fast approaching. Although we welcomed the resumption of deliberations by the House of Representatives on 25 and 26 June, and once again today, on necessary legislation for a referendum on the constitutional draft, that is not enough. It has been evident that many members of the House of Representatives, who last month completed their fourth year in office, have not demonstrated any enthusiasm in terms of their attendance or of adopting viable electoral legislation. Members of the House of Representatives should take notice.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“However, a handful of people defy that popular desire. The few who benefit from the status quo will, if left unchecked, do whatever they can to hinder elections. Unfortunately, they can do much, especially as they hold crucial, and too often lucrative, official positions. Without the right conditions, it would be unwise to hold elections. Without sending clear and firm messages to those who would attempt to stall or disrupt elections, such conditions will not be met. To the leaders of Libya, I say that it is time to return control to the citizens. At the international meeting in Paris on 29 May, the Prime Minister, the Heads of Libya's House of Representatives and High State Council and the Head of the Libyan National Army committed to engage constructively to enable elections to take place by the end of the year.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“The request submitted to the Council by the Government of National Accord for a review of the official Central Bank of Libya and the parallel central bank in the east is a welcome first step to bring transparency to the finances of Libya. I encourage Council members to consider the request in a positive light. If the economy of predation is to be broken, its methods must be laid bare, and, for that, Libya needs all our support. Libyans long to be rid of their current patchwork of institutions. The national conference consultations taught us that the Libyan people want clear and effective leadership by legitimate bodies, brought about by elections. It is telling that, although only 600,000 people voted for the House of Representatives in 2014, already 1 million have recently registered to vote in the next elections.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Events have brought to the fore the underlying issues that are plaguing the country and that I have repeatedly outlined to the Council, namely, frustrations over the distribution of wealth and the endemic plundering of resources. If those matters are not expeditiously addressed, I fear that the agreements made to resume oil production will not hold, and it will be difficult to advance the political process. The Mission will redouble its efforts to push for economic reforms, as the very stability and unity of the country are at stake. If there has been a silver lining to events, it is the fact that various authorities in Libya now accept that they need to take action to protect the country's wealth.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“The course of events drove a wedge through the middle of the country, thereby deepening division between institutions and regions. The Secretary-General released a statement on the matter and recalled all of the relevant Security Council resolutions, while offering the good offices of the United Nations. I have spent the past two weeks reaching out to the various Libyan actors, while shuttling back and forth to find a solution to the misguided crisis. I was not alone in that. The efforts and support of many Libyans and numerous Member States were invaluable. On 11 July, control reverted to the National Oil Corporation, and production resumed. The end of the immediate crisis has brought a collective sigh of relief, but it is not the end of the matter.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“The Libyan National Army recaptured the area within a week in a move most expected to re-establish the status quo, where management of the fields would have reverted to the internationally recognized National Oil Corporation, which operates under the Government of National Accord. However, on 25 June the Libyan National Army announced that it would transfer management of the oil facilities in the oil crescent and of other areas under its control to a non- recognized national oil corporation that exists in the east under a parallel authority. Subsequently, the official National Oil Corporation declared force majeure on the oil terminals of Sidra, Ra's Lanuf, Marsa Al-Hariga and Zuetina. As a result, 850,000 barrels per day of crude oil were prevented from being exported. It is estimated that Libya lost more than $900 million.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Any political progress is linked to the absence of military activity on the ground. Regrettably, the past two months have been marked by military actions and violent developments, thereby diverting attention and losing some of the momentum we had gained. First, in the eastern city of Derna, the Libyan National Army move to take control of the city led to two months of battle. The conflict ignited divides across the country, and though the Libyan National Army is now in control of the city, small-scale fighting continues. We then witnessed the events in the oil crescent. On 14 June, a coalition of armed groups, reportedly including foreign mercenaries, attempted to seize control of facilities in the oil crescent region. They successfully captured them, entailing numerous casualties and significant damage to critical infrastructure.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“For many communities, that was the first time that they were actively engaged in the political process and consulted on the future of their nation. Specific events were held for women, internally displaced persons and young people, while others targeted far-away communities in the south, abroad and constituencies previously excluded. The local national conference consultations have provided tremendous insight into the hopes, fears and vision of the Libyan people for a way forward. The next phase of the national conference is the distillation of the thousands of pages of reports into a full and final one, with national conclusions and recommendations to support the next steps to complete the transition. The date and the venue of the final event will be determined soon.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Fourthly, - and I am particularly proud of this - we have concluded the consultative phase of the national conference process. Over the past 14 weeks, we have held, thanks to our dedicated partner the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, more than 75 meetings in Libya and abroad. More than 7,000 Libyans - a quarter of them women - participated. Two thousand submissions were received online. One hundred and thirty thousand followers joined the consultative process on social media, while generating half a million comments. Digital messaging has reached over 1.8 million persons. Furthermore, the proceedings were covered in great detail by the Libyan media. That bottom-up process is an integral part of the action plan. It puts the Libyan people at the heart of the political process, whoever or wherever they may be.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“First, we provided a platform for reconciliation agreements and discussion, opening our good offices to all. We have hosted meetings on the most contentious issues - for example, meetings on land property grievances and consultations between internally displaced persons and those from the areas from which they have been displaced. Secondly, we supported the conduct of local elections, which took place in Zawiya on 12 May. Voter registration is currently ongoing for similar elections in the towns of Bani Walid and Dirge. Dozens of additional municipal elections are expected to be held this year. Thirdly, we have re-established the United Nations in Libya - in Tripoli where most of the Mission now resides and in Benghazi where our office will open in the next few weeks.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“Mr. Salame: Allow me to congratulate Sweden on its presidency of the Security Council this month. I am grateful for this opportunity to brief members of the Security Council on our work in Libya. For the first few months of this year, Libya enjoyed relative quiet from military actions. The United Nations helped create that lull. By reviving the political process with the delivery of the action plan for Libya, we provided a peaceful means to be heard and the prospect of obtaining official positions. With that has come increased dialogue and fluidity between the localities and the political camps. The number of civilians killed during the exchange of fire fell to only four in March, and five in April. We capitalized on that positive environment. Let me share four examples.”
2018-07-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8312 (2018) · source
“The aspirations of millions cannot be halted by those few who wish to maintain the status quo for their own personal benefit. Parallel bodies that continue to exist beyond their mandate must be dissolved. Elections must be held. The country must move forward. But that can be achieved only with the support of the Security Council. When Libya hears conflicting messages, we only add to division and give opportunity to those seeking to derail the process. But when the Council speaks with a clear and single voice, Libyans, believe me, listen.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“The solidarity of regional organizations was high, as expressed in the last Libya quartet meeting held Cairo, as was the solidarity shown during the regular tripartite meeting of neighbouring States, including Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia. I must thank the African Union, the League of Arab States and the European Union for inviting me to their respective forums to brief their member States. I also want to express my appreciation to the African Union and the European Union in the light of our joint task-force efforts aimed at supporting the voluntary return of migrants to their homes and improving, while still insufficiently, the conditions of the detention centres they are being held in. Along with Member States, we must continue our work with the Libyan authorities to improve the lives of migrants living in centres or in communities.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“It is a great pleasure to see Libyans from opposing factions meet and have discussions themselves, such as those between former regime groups in Benghazi or among representatives from Misrata, Tarhouna and Zintan. However, those meetings must be in pursuit of peace. We have also seen the welcome interest of Member States in support of Libyans meeting with each other. In Cairo, when officers from all parts of the country came together to try to unify their institutions; in Rabat, when the Speakers of the two Houses met for the first time; or in Dakar, where various groups of Libyans gathered to discuss their place in the political process - such meetings have the capacity to be useful, but only when they are congruent with the action plan for Libya.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“It is this perverse economic model that must be shattered if the political process is to make meaningful progress. We are working to tackle these challenges and, accordingly, in April, a special event was held at the margins of the spring meetings of the Bretton Woods Institutions in Washington, DC. The efforts of Member States are vital, both in supporting the Libyan authorities to manage their fiscal and monetary policy and in pursuing perpetrators of criminal financial behaviour. But there are limits to what can be done unless there are unified institutions that have the strength to challenge vested interests and the credibility to introduce meaningful reforms. The social and political fluidity observed during the previous briefing has continued to grow.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“There also needs to be a renewed push to build professional armed and police forces, including redoubling our own work. Those efforts need to proceed in lockstep. With the passage of the budget, Libya's wealth should flow to the people, and it must do so unimpeded and free of corruption. But with this year almost half gone, Libya must also look to its future. Subsidies remain unaddressed, as does the severe mismatch between the official and black-market exchange rate. Trafficked people and illicitly traded goods continue to flow through its borders. Those apects provide Opportunities for those few who sit at the heart of Libya's political stalemate, plundering the nation's coffers and resisting any actions that might challenge their sway over a predatory economy.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, the continued influence of armed groups upon politics and the economy is perilous and, unless resisted, is in danger of expanding, as recently shown in a disputed decision by the Government of National Accord to give to an armed group powers that can belong only to the sovereign State. To that end, we have developed a new strategy to help Libya deal with the armed groups. We have engaged the armed groups directly, in close consultation with the Government. We are in the final stages of consultation with the Libyan authorities to finalize the strategy and form the plan for its implementation. It will not unravel armed groups tomorrow but will help the long process begin in earnest. Helping Libya tackle armed groups addresses one of the many challenges Libya faces in the security sector.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source
“Instead they have become a distraction. It is now time to turn the page. By focusing on elections this year, amending the Political Agreement rapidly shrinks in importance. However, we must demand far more from the current Presidency Council in its remaining final months, in terms of both concretely preparing for elections and providing services to the people. We never lose sight of human rights. In our two recent human rights reports, the first on detention centres and the second, due to be released tomorrow, on medical services, we have documented countless violations by armed actors against civilians.”
2018-05-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8263 (2018) · source