Security Council

6644^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council Acts to Stem Arms Proliferation from Libya

 

Resolution 2017 (2011) Asks Interim Authorities to Ensure Proper Custody

Of Missiles, Other Weapons; States in Region, Appropriate Bodies Called Upon to Help

Calling for action to stem the proliferation of portable surface-to-air missiles and other arms from Libya by the country’s interim authorities, regional States and other relevant Member States, the Security Council this afternoon authorized the Libya sanctions committee to propose a strategy to keep such materiel out of the hands of terrorists and others.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2017 (2011), the Council called upon Libyan authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure the proper custody of portable surface-to-air missiles, known as MANPADS (man-portable air defence systems), and all other arms and related materiel, as well as to meet Libya’s arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation obligations under international law, as well as to continue close coordination on the destruction of all stockpiles of chemical weapons with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

States in the region were called upon to take appropriate measures to prevent proliferation of those weapons as well.  Other Member States and international and regional organizations were called upon take appropriate action to assist the Libyan authorities and States in the region towards that goal.

The Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) on Libya sanctions, with assistance from its Panel of Experts and in cooperation with other relevant bodies, was requested to assess threats and challenges, in particular those related to terrorism, posed by the proliferation of weapons.  The Committee was asked to submit a report to the Council on proposals to counter those threats, including stockpile management, border control and transport security.

Following the adoption of the resolution, the representatives of Germany and the Russian Federation welcomed the action.  Germany’s representative noted that, since control of any nuclear materials was implied by the resolution, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should have a role in the anti-proliferation efforts, as should the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  His country would support the sending of a team to Libya to assess the situation of weapons of mass destruction.

In regard to the report requested, Germany’s representative also voiced his country’s position that the Panel of Experts should report directly to the Security Council panels and not — as provided in the resolution — through the sanctions committee.  Direct reporting was the usual practice and was meant to preserve the independence of such panels.  Stressing the danger that MANPADS posed to aviation, the representative of the Russian Federation proposed that organizations related to civil aviation be engaged in the counter-proliferation effort.

The meeting started at 3:05 p.m. and ended at 3:15 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2017 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous resolutions 1373 (2001), 1526 (2004), 1540 (2004), 1970 (2011), 1973 (2011), 1977 (2011), 1989 (2011), 2009 (2011) and 2016 (2011), and the statements of its Presidents S/PRST/2005/7 and S/PRST/2010/6,

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya,

“Stressing that national ownership and national responsibility are key to establishing sustainable peace in Libya,

“Stressing also the importance of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, in accordance with its mandate under resolution 2009 (2011), assisting and supporting Libyan national efforts, inter alia to restore public security and order,

“Recalling that, pursuant to paragraph 10 of resolution 1970 (2011), Member States are obliged to prohibit the procurement of all arms and related materiel from Libya by their nationals, or using their flagged vessels or aircraft, and whether or not originating in the territory of Libya,

“Expressing concern at the proliferation of all arms and related materiel of all types, in particular man-portable surface-to-air missiles, from Libya, in the region and its potential impact on regional and international peace and security,

“Underlining the risk of destabilization posed by the dissemination in the Sahel region of illicit small arms and light weapons, and recalling in that regard the Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa (S/2011/388), which, inter alia calls for strengthened cooperation in the Sahel area, as well as the work of the United Nation Office for Central Africa,

“Recognizing the urgent need for additional efforts to be made at the national, regional and international levels, in order to prevent the proliferation of all arms and related materiel of all types, in particular man-portable surface-to-air missiles, in the region,

“Recognizing also the urgent need to secure and destroy chemical weapons stockpiles in Libya, in accordance with its international obligations,

“Emphasizing that the proliferation of all arms and related materiel of all types, in particular, man-portable surface-to-air missiles, in the region could fuel terrorist activities, including those of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb,

“Reaffirming, in that regard, that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,

“Reiterating the obligation of Member States to cooperate in order to prevent the movement of terrorist groups, and the proliferation of arms in support of terrorist activities, inter alia through effective border control,

“Mindful of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,

“1.   Calls upon the Libyan authorities to take all necessary steps to prevent the proliferation of all arms and related materiel of all types, in particular man-portable surface-to-air missiles, to ensure their proper custody, as well as to meet Libya’s arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation obligations under international law, through the full implementation of their plans in this regard;

“2.   Further calls upon the Libyan authorities to continue their close coordination with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, with the aim of destroying their stockpiles of chemical weapons, in accordance with their international obligations;

“3.   Calls upon States in the region to consider appropriate measures to prevent the proliferation of all arms and related materiel of all types, in particular man-portable surface-to-air missiles, in the region;

“4.   Calls upon Member States, international and regional organizations and entities, including relevant UN bodies, to provide the necessary assistance to the Libyan authorities and States in the region in order to achieve this goal;

“5.   Requests the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), with assistance from its Panel of Experts, and in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, and working with other relevant UN bodies including the International Civil Aviation Organization, and in consultation with international and regional organizations and entities, to assess the threats and challenges, in particular related to terrorism, posed by the proliferation of all arms and related materiel of all types, in particular man-portable surface-to-air missiles, from Libya, in the region, and to submit a report to the Council on proposals to counter this threat, and to prevent the proliferation of arms and related materiel, including, inter alia, measures to secure these arms and related materiel, to ensure that stockpiles are managed safely and securely, to strengthen border control and to enhance transport security;

“6.   Requests the Secretary-General to include in his reports pursuant to resolution 2009 (2011) to the Security Council updates on the implementation of this resolution;

“7.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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