Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy at UNSC briefing on the situation in Libya
Mr.President,
We thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya Abdoulaye Bathily and the Permanent Representative of Japan, Ambassador Ishikane, for the briefings. We also followed closely the remarks by Ms.Imneina.
The dynamic in Libya does not instill much optimism. There is a duality of power in the country. Unfortunately, prospects for overcoming he protracted internal crisis are not visible at this point. We call on the Libyan leaders to cast aside all contradictions and work together to ensure comprehensive security and a final normalization. We are firmly convinced that this would meet the tasks of establishing lasting peace and stability throughout Northern Africa, which is still struggling with the consequences of the tragic events of 2011.
Mr.President,
This stalemate can be resolved by holding nation-wide elections. Now it is crucial for Libya to agree on modalities of the electoral process in the shortest possible term. Active work within the 6+6 Committee unlocked a direct path towards the elections. We welcome the progress of the inter-Libyan talks in Bouznika (Morocco), which almost made it to a consensus on the key aspects of the legislative basis for the upcoming vote. Libyans are literally a step away from a much-needed breakthrough. We hope that these efforts will continue and conditions will be created for presidential and parliamentary elections to take place simultaneously very soon. International mediation should focus on rendering adequate support to Libyans so they can move on to the next stages of the political process.
We proceed from the assumption that the electoral process must be transparent and truly inclusive; it should bring together the whole range of political forces of the former Jamahiriya on a non-discriminatory basis, including representatives of former authorities. This will safeguard acceptance of the voting results by the entire Libyan society and rule out a possibility of another military and political escalation. External interference should be limited, which will allow the Libyans to play the leading role in determining the future of their long-suffering homeland.
Mr.President,
There has been no active hostilities in Libya for more than two years, which is certainly a major positive development.
However, a threat of recurrence of a forceful confrontation has not been fully eliminated. There are sporadic clashes among local paramilitary groups. In these circumstances, it is important to safeguard observance of the ceasefire by all, preclude any threats to the civilian population and ensure uninterrupted transportation connectivity.
We welcome the ongoing activities of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission. However, painstaking efforts are required to move on towards a full settlement of the conflict. One of the key tracks here is the one leading to an eventual cancellation of foreign military presence in Libya. We stand for a synchronized, well-balanced, phased and gradual withdrawal of all non-Libyan armed groups and paramilitary formations.
Mr.President,
We believe that only a conscious willingness on the part of the key Libyan protagonists to reach a reasonable compromise under the auspices of the UN and its most important instrument in Libya, UNSMIL, under consolidated support of the international community can boost the political process. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our support for SRSG Bathily as he looks for ways to break the internal political deadlock and give impetus to the political dialogue.
In this context, we believe any unilateral initiatives are counter-productive, including the initiatives that are designed to promote settlement but do not imply participation of all influential international and regional stakeholders, as well as the Libyans themselves. At this decisive stage, it is especially important to coordinate promptly with members of the Security Council. We underscore again that Russia stands ready for a constructive interaction with all stakeholders on this matter.
Mr.President,
At the current stage, which is critical to Libya, the primary task of the global community is to keep encouraging the leaders of this country to preserve and follow up on the positive trends of the recent months. It is unacceptable that Libya may turn into an arena of confrontation by external forces that seek to deepen the divisions in the country, exacerbate instability and chaos. Against this background, the dual agenda of our Western colleagues is obvious. Their goal remains the same. They do not want a long-term settlement. What they want is to use Libyan hydrocarbons to provide for their own economic needs. The stable functioning of the oil sector in Libya is important for post-war recovery, with the understanding that the country's natural resources belong first and foremost to its citizens. It is also necessary to put the economic and financial areas in order while proceeding from the principle that Libya is the owner of its funds, including the frozen assets.
In conclusion, we remain concerned over the issue of illegal migration and the proliferation of arms in Libya, which affects security in the country and the entire Sahara-Sahel region. We count on a more effective inspections off the Libyan coast which should be carried out in full compliance with international law.
Thank you.
