United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2021
NOTE: This is issued in the United States’ capacity as President of the UN Security Council.
Statement by the President of the Security Council on Libya, March 12, 2021
The Security Council welcomes the vote of confidence by the House of Representatives to endorse the cabinet of a new unified interim Libyan government charged with leading the country up to elections and stresses the importance of this step in the Libyan political process.
The Security Council underlines the importance of the unification of Libya’s institutions, as set out in the roadmap agreed by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunis in November 2020.
The Security Council calls on all Libyan authorities and actors to ensure a smooth handover of all competences and duties to the new interim government. The Security Council welcomes Prime Minister Serraj’s statement in this regard.
The Security Council calls on the forthcoming interim government to make the necessary preparations for free and fair national Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021 including arrangements to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women.
The Security Council further calls on the forthcoming interim government to improve the delivery of services to the Libyan people, launch a comprehensive national reconciliation process, adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians, and prioritize full implementation of the 23 October 2020 Ceasefire Agreement.
The Security Council calls on all parties to implement the ceasefire agreement in full and urges Member States to respect and support the full implementation of the agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without further delay.
The Security Council calls for full compliance with the UN arms embargo by all Member States, in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Security Council underlines the importance of a credible and effective Libyan-led Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism under UN auspices and welcomes the deployment of the UN advance team to Libya. The Security Council looks forward to receiving proposals on the tasks and scale of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism from the Secretary-General in accordance with the timeline set out in the letter of the President of the Security Council S/2021/110 of 4 February.
The Security Council recognizes the need to plan for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups, security sector reform and to establish an inclusive, civilian-led security architecture for Libya as a whole.
The Security Council recognizes the important role of neighboring countries and regional organizations in support of UN efforts.
The Security Council underlines its support to the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to Special Envoy Ján Kubiš, UNSMIL Coordinator Raisedon Zenenga and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Georgette Gagnon.
The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the UN-facilitated Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process and to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.
###
