Security Council Press Statement on Libya
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins (Angola):
The members of the Security Council welcomed the meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue on 10 March 2016, which reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the Libyan Political Agreement.
The members of the Security Council noted that the Political Dialogue valued the declaration signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives on 23 February announcing their support for the Government of National Accord.
The members of the Security Council echoed the call made by the Political Dialogue for the House of Representatives to uphold its responsibilities in implementing all relevant provisions of the Libyan Political Agreement and for the Presidency Council to take steps to rapidly start working from the capital, Tripoli, in accordance with the security arrangements in the Agreement.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their support for the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement of Skhirat, Morocco, on 17 December 2015, the signing of which was welcomed by resolution 2259 (2015), which endorsed the Rome communiqué of 13 December 2015 to support the Government of National Accord as the sole legitimate Government of Libya, and expressed its determination in this regard to support the Government of National Accord.
The members of the Security Council renewed their call, in resolution 2259 (2015), on Member States to cease support to and official contact with parallel institutions that claim to be the legitimate authority, but are outside the Libyan Political Agreement as specified by it.
The members of the Security Council called on the Government of National Accord to finalize interim security arrangements necessary for stabilizing Libya, and in that regard, called upon Member States to respond urgently to requests from it for assistance.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that the Government of National Accord should be based in the capital, Tripoli, after measures have been taken to ensure adequate security, and encouraged the Presidency Council 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, and called on all parties in Libya to support efforts in this regard.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their 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 groups affiliated with Al-Qaida, and called on the Government of National Accord to urgently focus on combating this threat.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Martin Kobler, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and thanked them for their tireless efforts in this United Nations-facilitated, Libyan-led dialogue process, and encouraged its future efforts in this regard.
The members of the Security Council commended Libyan efforts to work towards implementation of a political settlement and emphasized the importance of continued inclusiveness, and called on all Libyans to unite wholeheartedly in a spirit of reconciliation.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.