YouSaid · the spoken record

Taher Elsonni

lines on the record: 124
first: 2020-05-05
most recent: 2021-05-21
sittings or episodes: 8
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

“When the arms embargo was put in place, it was supposed to be in my country’s interest and applied to individuals or groups attempting to smuggle weapons. But what is the logic in imposing such an embargo on a sovereign legitimate Government that has supposedly been backed by the Council from day one? In the same context, we categorically reject the statements made a few days ago by some countries directly involved in supporting the aggressor and in the killing of Libyans, casting doubt on the legitimacy and legality of our sovereign agreements and alliances, which constitutes blatant interference in our internal affairs. We therefore condemn and reject those statements.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“Therefore, any international operation carried out without proper coordination with the Libyan Government is considered illegal and not founded on relevant Security Council resolutions. For that reason, we have announced our rejection of the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI in its current form because we were only being notified of a fait accompli rather than being consulted and properly engaged, as we were under Operation SOPHIA. Operation IRINI is insufficient to implement resolutions banning the provision of arms to illegal entities. The operation is not comprehensive and excludes the land and air borders of eastern Libya, which is the main hub of support for the aggressor militias that operate outside the law.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“In addition, we request all countries whose nationals are involved as mercenaries to take immediate action to pull them out of Libya and to hold all those involved in their recruitment accountable, rather than simply claiming that they are not responsible.Talking about developments in Libya leads me to resolution 2292 (2016), on granting authorizations to Member States and international or regional organizations to carry out ship inspections as part of the implementation of the arms embargo. Here we would like to put the following facts in the record. Resolution 2292 (2016) stipulates that implementation should be done in coordination with the Libyan Government, a message that is reiterated in paragraph 11 of the recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 2473 (2019) (S/2020/393).”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“Accordingly, today we officially call, via the penholder on Libya, for the urgent convening of a Council meeting with a view to taking steps to end the systematic illegal interventions of the United Arab Emirates in an attempt to overturn the legitimate Government of Libya, in violation of all relevant United Nations resolutions. We also call on the countries concerned, especially those of the manufacture or origin of the weapons, to provide us and the sanctions committee with documents certifying the end-users and to explain how the weapons fell into the hands of those who subvert legitimacy and violate Security Council resolutions.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“Regarding weapons, for example, Council members witnessed the successful liberation of cities on the west coast by the heroic soldiers of our Libyan National Army, such as the liberation yesterday of Al-Watiya airbase. In the process, we captured a number of Russian-made Pantsir-S1 air defence systems, destroyed a number of Emirati Tygra or Panthera armoured vehicles and found tons of high-tech ammunition and weapons. Before that, we shot down several Wing Loong II drones, made in China. In that connection, we wish to inform the Council that we have damning evidence, supported by previous reports — which we are sharing with the Panel of Experts — of the repeated involvement of the United Arab Emirates in the transfer of those specific weapons to the war criminal and his subversive militias.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“It no longer makes sense to remain silent about countries that support those violations and terrorism. Everyone has read the recent reports of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1973 (2011) and has seen first-hand the type of weapons and mercenaries being used by the militias committing the aggression. The best example of this are the regular flights by Emirati freight planes and aircraft operated by Syria’s Cham Wings Airlines, not to mention the recruitment of thousands of mercenaries of various nationalities, including from Chad, the Sudan and Syria, affiliated with the Russian Wagner Group. Those are not only our words; this is being reported in United Nations documents.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“Prior to that, he bombed Al-Hadaba hospital, dedicated to treating coronavirus disease patients, in addition to attacking civilian neighbourhoods in Souq Al-Jum’a, Abu Salim and Bab Ben Ghashir. His forces also bombed areas near diplomatic missions in the Zawiyat Al-Dahmani neighbourhood on 7 May. The aggressor’s violations did not stop there. He also bombed a shelter for internally displaced persons in the Farnaj area last Saturday, killing seven civilians and injuring dozens, as if it were not enough to have already forced the victims to abandon their homes. Further numerous terrorist acts have caused more killing, displacement and destruction. Despite all that, as I keep repeating, we still hear statements about an anonymous perpetrator.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“Bensouda, presented her nineteenth report (see S/2020/371), and I am confident that all Council members have now seen or heard evidence of the violations taking place in my country. On this occasion, we extend our thanks to Ms. Bensouda for her clarity and for clearly identifying the perpetrator of those war crimes by name. However, we are still waiting for the Council and the international community to show similar courage and to put an end to the series of politicized statements that the war criminal and the States that support him have used to continue committing crimes and violations and creating chaos. As a reminder to the Council, after announcing a false humanitarian truce, the aggressor deliberately launched hundreds of rockets against Tripoli, targeting the central hospital.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“The eleventh preambular paragraph of resolution 2278 (2016) reads in part: “Reaffirming the importance of holding accountable those responsible for violations or abuses of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law, including those involved in attacks targeting civilians.” The twelfth preambular paragraph of resolution 2376 (2017) states: “Reaffirming the need for all parties in Libya to engage constructively with the United Nations and refrain from any actions that could undermine UN-mediated political dialogue and reiterating that there can be no military solution in Libya.” The sixteenth preambular paragraph of resolution 2486 (2019) reads: “Reaffirming that all parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable, and emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable.” S/2020/421 Two weeks ago, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Ms.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“In my statement, I will naturally — and as usual — enumerate the latest crimes committed by the war criminal himself, as well as his terrorist militias and mercenaries, even though we know that the Security Council already has all the facts and is well aware of what is happening, who is committing these crimes, who is supporting them, who sparked this crisis, who is responsible for the bloodshed and who has plunged the country and the region into a mess that has affected everyone. In that regard, I recall some of the resolutions adopted by this very Council, of which there have been 16 since the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement in 2015, all on punishing and holding spoilers accountable. If those resolutions had been implemented by the Council, we would have avoided the current situation today.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“If we refer back to the prior reports of the United Nations and other international entities and the records of the meetings of this organ, we find them almost repetitive; the only thing that changes in them is the increase in the number of victims and the diversity and monstrous nature the violations. The common denominator among these reports and records is the words of condemnation and outrage, and the calls addressed equally to all parties to stop the fighting, without ever identifying the responsible party who has led, carried out and instigated all those actions, and who bragged about them before everyone’s eyes and in the presence of the Secretary-General during his visit to Tripoli last year.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“First of all, I wish to thank Ambassador Juergen Schulz for briefing us today on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya. I would also like to thank Ms. Stephanie Williams for her briefing on the latest developments in my country. For over a year now, the situation in my country has not changed. Violations and aggression have continued, including the systematic indiscriminate shelling of Tripoli and its outskirts, causing the deaths of dozens of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure, in order to terrorize and frighten people. As we gather today to listen to briefings and reports, everyone must be wondering what is new in and what is next.”
2020-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/421 (2020) · source
“We continue to reserve our legitimate right to self-defence, to protect our people and to combat aggressors and outlaws who threaten the safety of our civilians. After more than a year, it is obvious that this warlord’s military adventure has failed. Thanks to our Libyan National Army, our valiant forces and the resilience of our people, the world has seen the beginning of the process of curing the country from the real pandemic that is threatening peace and stability in Libya and the region. Meanwhile, we continue to reach out to all Libyans across the country who have embraced the path of peace and stability, and strive towards a democratic, civil State.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“In the area of Zenata, for example, he killed and wounded dozens, ignoring and disregarding the efforts, initiatives and calls of Moscow, Berlin and others. Furthermore, one week ago, he announced a coup against the political agreement and all the legitimate State institutions and proclaimed himself the supreme military ruler and tyrant of the country in an outdated farcical performance. In the light of the recent events, is anyone still hesitant to consider him an obstructionist and spoiler of the peace process and the resolutions of the Council? Is anyone still hesitant to call out and shame this aggressor and war criminal by name? When will he be held accountable? We still only hear general words of condemnation as if the perpetrator were a ghost.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“We therefore hope that, in consideration of my statement and the questions I have just posed, the ICC will work in cooperation with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya and its Panel of Experts to ensure that the evidence and findings are consistent and that the accused are clearly and explicitly identified and held to account. Although this is an ICC briefing, I would like to remind the Council of its responsibility towards my country and of the importance of taking a firm stand for justice and accountability. As everyone is aware, the aggressor continues his attacks despite his false announcement of a humanitarian truce, immediately after which he deliberately targeted civilians in the centre of Tripoli and elsewhere.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“What about the use of mercenaries from several nationalities to carry out such violations, as mentioned by name in reports of the Council’s Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya? What about the countries that finance and provide the arms needed to perpetrate such human rights violations? I remind Ms. Bensouda that the ICC is not a human rights organization created to simply list violations and crimes. The Court is also mandated to investigate and prosecute.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“Haftar and his commanders have publicly claimed responsibility for many of those crimes? According to Article 7 of the Rome Statute, a crime against humanity “means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: (a) Murder; (b) Extermination; (c) Enslavement; (d) Deportation or forcible transfer of population”. And these are only some of the crimes Mr. Haftar has committed, as confirmed in the report. Another question emerges. What about the countries and officials outside Libya who support and finance those grave violations? Does that not entail joint responsibility?”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“According to article 28 (a) of the Rome Statute of the ICC, “A military commander or person effectively acting as a military commander shall be criminally responsible for crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court committed by forces under his or her effective command and control, or effective authority and control as the case may be, as a result of his or her failure to exercise control properly over such forces”. Swift action was taken against Mahmoud Al-Werfalli — who, incidentally, is being promoted by Mr. Haftar and is fighting in the outskirts of Tripoli as we speak — for his crimes, based on the evidence found. We might ask, what is the difference between his crimes and Mr. Haftar’s massive crimes against humanity and human rights violations, which targeted and killing thousands of innocent people, if Mr.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“Bensouda for her reports and findings, which, as she has consistently said, seek to uncover war crimes and crimes against humanity in Libya and to hold their perpetrators accountable. The questions on the table now are: What is next? What are we going to do with all the findings and evidence provided today and in previous reports? What is the ICC waiting for to hold accountable all those responsible for the violations mentioned today and perpetrated by the so-called National Army? Who is ultimately responsible?”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“As for the concerns expressed in the report about the situation of illegal migrants, we would like to emphasize that my Government has taken a number of swift measures to protect them, such as expediting their transfer from conflict areas, and is cooperating with specialized United Nations agencies to monitor their living and medical conditions. However, that may not be enough. As mentioned in a recent report on the implementation of resolution 2437 (2018) (see S/2019/711), an air strike against a migrant detention centre in Tajoura in July 2019 killed 53 migrants and injured 130 — an example of how Mr. Haftar and his militias deliberately target these detention centres. We thank Ms.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“Haftar’s forces are explicitly accused of numerous war crimes, from air strikes and the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and civilian facilities to other serious violations, the latest of which was the 7 April bombardment of Al-Hadaba General Hospital in Tripoli, which was treating patients who had contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). That led to several iterations of the closure of the hospital and terrified patients and medical staff. In addition, the provision of water, gas, and electricity to the city had to be shut off. Those violations were firmly condemned by the Secretary-General and many countries. At a time when the entire world is facing anxiety and panic due to the pandemic, this tragedy exacerbates the current crisis faced by civilians in my country.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“In that regard, the military prosecutor in Libya has issued warrants for the arrest of a number of criminals and outlaws — first and foremost of war criminal Khalifa Haftar and other leaders under his command. We also wish to inform the Council that my Government is finalizing its third report, to be issued by the Joint Committee for Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations, in accordance with Government of National Accord decree 735-2019. The report will soon be shared with the ICC and the Council. As stated in Ms. Bensouda’s briefing today, which covers the past six months, and her previous seventeenth and eighteenth reports, Mr.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“In addition, the Libyan judiciary is committed to ensuring a fair and impartial trial for all its accused, including fugitives and outlaws. The national judiciary system is determined to prosecute all those who have committed violations of any type on Libyan soil. Their crimes shall not be subject to a statute of limitations. In that regard, we would like to emphasize that the Libyan judiciary system monitors all violations and crimes, particularly those committed by war criminal Khalifa Haftar since the attack on Tripoli and its outskirts on 4 April 2019. Those include the numerous violations he has committed in other Libyan cities, such as kidnapping, killing and public executions in Benghazi in the east, the Murzuq massacre in the south, the massacre of the military school students in Tripoli and many other violations.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source
“At the outset, I would like to congratulate the President of the Security Council for this month and wish him every success in his tasks. I would also like to thank Ms. Bensouda for her briefing today. Achieving justice throughout Libyan territory is a responsibility that falls under Libyan sovereignty and national jurisdiction. However, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, we also reaffirm our continued cooperation with and support of the complementing role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as highlighted by Ms. Bensouda on many occasions and in various reports. We believe in the mandate of the national judiciary system to prosecute the accused in accordance with the Libyan penal code, in furtherance of Libya’s sovereignty over its territory and citizens.”
2020-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/371 (2020) · source