UNSC Meeting on United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)

[24 November 2021; 1000 hours]

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to thank Special Envoy Mr. Jan Kubis for his briefing, and wish him all the best for his future endeavours. I also thank Dr. Lamees BenSaad, member of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, for her insightful remarks. I welcome the presence of our colleague the Libyan Ambassador in our meeting.

2. We are approaching the date of 24 December which was set by the Libyan people for Presidential and Parliamentary elections. This was an objective that was endorsed subsequently by the Security Council. There is a sense of cautious hope that the political momentum would be sustained towards holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections in a free, fair, inclusive, and credible manner exactly one month from now. In this regard, we welcome the outcomes of the Paris International Conference for Libya, including its commitment to the success of the Libyan political process, to the full implementation of the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement and look forward to the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections on 24 December.

3. The security scenario also calls for optimism from the international community. We have noted the 8^th October agreement on the Joint Military Commission (JMC) Action Plan for the departure of mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces from the Libyan territories, and subsequent developments in this regard, including meetings conducted with representatives of Chad, Niger and Sudan with regard to implementation of the action plan.

4. At the same time, we also note from the briefing of the Special Envoy that challenges still remain, including impediments to the holding of elections in a free, fair, inclusive and credible manner. The involvement of external forces in the internal affairs of Libya has negatively impacted the progress on the political track; and terrorist forces have been raising their heads once again in Libya. Continued violations of arms embargo is equally alarming, as repeatedly reported by the Panel of Experts.

Mr. President,

5. As Libya embarks on its journey towards peace and stability, it is incumbent upon the international community and the Security Council, in particular, to continue to provide the necessary support to the country so that the political progress achieved in the country does not whittle away. In this regard, I would like to make the following suggestions:

(i) One, the most important priority for Libya is the holding of elections as planned on 24 December 2021 in a free, fair, inclusive and credible manner. The efforts by the High National Commission for Elections (HNEC) to advance preparations for the elections are to be commended.

(ii) Two, the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Libya needs to be safeguarded. The peace process must be fully Libyan-led and Libyan-owned with no imposition or external interference. We also encourage all Libyan parties to continue to make concerted efforts towards the unification of all national institutions.

(iii) Three, the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement and successive Security Council resolutions need to be respected. The JMC Action Plan is an important step, which also shows the commitment of the Libyan parties towards the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries. It is important that the call of the Libyan parties is honoured.

(iv) Four, we must ensure that terrorist groups and affiliated entities are not allowed to operate unchallenged in Libya. The continued presence and activities of ISIL in Libya is of serious concern, also due to the potential cascading effect it is already having throughout the Sahel region. It is unfortunate that the issue is not drawing the attention it deserves. The international community must speak in one voice against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

(v) Five, we need to plan for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups and non-state armed actors. We appreciate the fact that UNSMIL is prepared to render assistance to Libya in this process.

(vi) Six, an inclusive and comprehensive national reconciliation process is the need of the hour. We hope that the forthcoming elections will be an important step in this direction.

6. To conclude, India has traditionally enjoyed close and mutually beneficial bilateral ties with Libya and we remain committed to supporting Libya and the Libyan people in their endeavour to bring about lasting peace in the country.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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