Security Council Press Statement on Libya

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Elio Rosselli (Uruguay):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the announcement by the Presidency Council of the formation of the Government of National Accord.  They further noted that this is an important step following the signature of the Libyan Political Agreement of Skhirat on 17 December 2015 welcomed by Security Council resolution 2259 (2015).

The members of the Security Council expressed support for the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement and to this end looked forward to the House of Representatives endorsing the Government of National Accord, and stressed that the Government of National Accord should be based in the capital Tripoli.

The members of the Security Council encouraged the House of Representatives to work swiftly towards this end in the interests of the Libyan people in order to tackle Libya’s political, security, humanitarian, economic and institutional challenges, and to confront the rising threat of terrorism.

The members of the Security Council reiterated grave concern about the growing terrorist threat in Libya, in particular from groups proclaiming allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), and called on the new Libyan Government to urgently focus on combating this threat.

The members of the Security Council thanked the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Martin Kobler, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for their tireless efforts in this United Nations-facilitated, Libyan-led dialogue process and agreement.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.