UNSC Briefing and Consultations on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)

(15.11.2022; 1000 hours EST)

INDIA STATEMENT

Mr. President, 

    I would like to thank SRSG Abdoulaye Bathily for his briefing today.

2.    We have been meeting on a monthly basis to hear updates from the SRSG. However, it is a matter of concern that political stalemate continues and there is still no agreement between various parties on the Constitutional basis for holding elections in Libya. The continued political stalemate could pose the risk of undermining the gains made in Libya since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in October 2020. The immediate priority, therefore, is to resolve all outstanding issues in arriving at a Constitutional basis for holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Holding elections at the earliest in a free, fair, inclusive, and credible manner is an urgent imperative.  

3.    Frequent mobilizations of armed groups and clashes between them bring into focus the dangers posed by the continued presence of foreign forces and mercenaries in Libya. Their presence in Libya is a violation of the Libyan Ceasefire Agreement of 2020 and goes against the pronouncements of the Security Council. Violations of Security Council resolutions, especially its provisions on arms embargo, are continuing with disregard for peace and stability in Libya and the region. 

4.    In this regard, the Panel of Experts assisting the Libya Sanctions Committee has noted, “the remainder of the training provided by Turkey to the Government of National Unity Affiliated Forces is military or naval in nature and thus a violation of Paragraph 9 of UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011)”. In view of this, we have noted yet another military agreement signed by Turkey on 25 October. We would request the SRSG to examine whether this action by Turkey violates Paragraph 9 of UNSCR 1970 and inform the Council accordingly. 

5.     We are also concerned at the resurgence of terrorist activity in Libya, and we reiterate that terrorist groups and affiliated entities must not be allowed to operate unchallenged in Libya. Terrorism emanating from Libya is bound to have cascading effects in the Sahel region and it is therefore important for the international community to address it, at this stage itself, so as to avoid its collateral consequences on the wider African continent.

Mr. President,

6.    The political process in Libya should be fully Libyan-led and Libyan-owned with no imposition or external interference. India for its part remains committed to supporting Libya and the Libyan people in their endeavour to seek lasting peace and stability.

I thank you.

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