Remarks by Ambassador Ferit Hoxha at the Security Council meeting on Libya

Thank you, Madame President,

I thank USG Di Carlo for her remarks and valuable insights at this critical time for Libya.

I would also like to thank the Chair of the 1790 Sanctions Committee on Libya, Ambassador Tirumurti, for the updates and welcome the participation of the Ambassador Alsuni to this meeting.

After more than a decade of conflict, the situation in Libya remains uncertain.

A legitimacy crisis affecting all its institutions is worsened by divisions, political rivalry, the emergence of parallel governments and the presence of foreign fighters and mercenaries. Natural resources remain contested instead of benefiting the Libyan population.

The urgent stabilization of Libya is of strategic importance for its people, but also for the region. We must explore every possibility to overcome the current political impasse. The dispute over control of the Executive threatens to trigger instability and violence on the ground, as we recently saw in Tripoli.

We join the Secretary General in his assessment that “A clear, consensual path to elections is, now more than ever, a political necessity.”It is now time for Libyan stakeholders and the International Community to redouble their support to the United Nations’ mediation efforts.

The talks in Cairo between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, mediated by Special Adviser Stephanie Williams, have shown signs of encouraging progress towards a constitutional basis for the elections. This constitutes a very promising basis towards an agreement. It is what Libya needs; it is what we expect. A consensual constitutional basis and the establishment of an electoral horizon could be crucial to resolve the tensions surrounding the executive.

This momentum should be maintained during the third round in June, in order to prepare and hold free, fair, credible and inclusive elections. We call on all Libyan stakeholders, including the leadership of both the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, to cooperate fully and in good faith with Special Adviser Williams.

We commend Special Advisor Williams for her mediation efforts, as well as UNSMIL for its role in supporting accountability efforts. Justice is paramount for sustained peace.

Progress in the political track is necessary and urgent to reduce volatility, which has engendered a stalemate also on the military track. While the ceasefire has been maintained and all Libyan actors reiterate their rejection of conflict, many of the achievements of the military dialogue and of the work of the Joint Military Committee 5+5 are in question.

No progress can be envisaged in this context for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries.

Distinguished colleagues,

Such volatile and polarized situation affects every aspect of life. We remain very worried by the continuing increase of restrictions to civil society in Libya. It reduces civic space and undermines the meaningful participation of all the stakeholders to the country’s political process and public life.

Every attempt in controlling the civil society organizations and in limiting their space for international cooperation is regrettable and should be withdrawn.

Furthermore, the political stalemate is depriving the Libyan people of access to their national resources, jeopardizing their economy, investments in critical infrastructures, and even the provision of basic services, and undermining the socio-economic rights of the population. This is unacceptable and most unfortunate in a country of just 7 million citizens richly endowed in natural resources

It is crucial that the National Oil Corporation remains neutral to the political impasse and that the production of hydrocarbons is not held hostage to political infighting.

The resources that are now feeding and exacerbating contrasts among local stakeholders must be redirected to the socio-economic development of the Country and to the benefit of the Libyan people.

Madame Chair,

Operation IRINI has made an important contribution to ensure respect the UN Arms embargo within the overall efforts towards finding a solution to the Libyan crisis.

Albania fully support the renewal of mandate and operation IRINI.

Thank you,

 

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