Statement of the Republic of Slovenia at UNSC Briefing & Consultations on UNSMIL / Libya

Thank you President, and thanks to Deputy SRGS Khoury, Chair of the  Sanctions Committee Ambassador Yamazaki, and  Ms. Bugaighis for their briefings. I also welcome the Libyan Ambassador to the chamber.

President,

I start today by welcoming the recent agreement reached between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State on Libya’s Central Bank, bringing much-needed de-escalation in a very fragile context.

In August, faced with a serious deterioration in the political, security and economic landscape in Libya, this Council stated its concern at the recent developments and tensions in the country. Slovenia condemned clashes and expressed alarm at military mobilisation and movements, urging all actors to exercise maximum restraint and to respect international law.

The agreement which has since been reached to overcome the dispute on the leadership of the Central Bank, as well as other critical issues relating to the governance of the institution, is both promising and welcome. Furthermore, it demonstrates that it is possible for Libyan actors to reach compromise on issues critical to the wellbeing and future of the Libyan people.

We urge the Libyan parties to fulfil the terms of the agreement, and acknowledge the key role played by the UN in mediating this process. UN efforts should remain central going forward, and we hope that this agreement can form the basis for further agreements.

President,

Slovenia also welcomes the visit undertaken to Libya last month by Under Secretary General DiCarlo and her engagement with a wide variety of interlocutors, including civil society. We echo her sentiment that credible, inclusive national elections are the only way to end the political deadlock and achieve a durable peace. We once again call for full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in it. We further welcome the preparations for the holding of local elections, an important step in the democratic process.

Slovenia once again calls for dialogue between all Libyan actors, and fully supports UN efforts to facilitate an inclusive Libyan-led and -owned political process. We urge all parties to refrain from unilateral actions and engage with the UN process in good faith and without preconditions.

President,

in order to overcome divisions in the country, we believe that a genuine and rights-based national reconciliation process will be critical. We also believe that accountability and transitional justice are necessary components to break the cycle of violence.

We are troubled by the recent joint report by UNSMIL and OHCHR that provides disturbing findings on gross human rights violations and abuses committed in and around the city of Tarhuna, where mass graves have revealed the scale of the violence.

Survivors and their families are naturally disappointed by the lack of progress in holding perpetrators of these violations and abuses to account. They must be included in all future discussions on reconciliation, at local and national level. We call on the Libyan authorities to implement the recommendations of this report, with the cooperation and support of the international community.  

Before concluding President,

I wish to acknowledge that we recently passed the one-year mark since Storm Daniel, which inflicted so much devastation on Libya and its people. The strength of the people of Derna to rebuild their communities in the wake of such devastation is remarkable. We urge the Libyan authorities to continue to prioritise coordinated reconstruction and long-term development in Derna and its surrounding areas.

Furthermore I would like to recall the heightened vulnerability of growing numbers of Sudanese refugees in Libya, and recognize the indispensable role of local authorities in responding to their needs.

Finally, Slovenia expresses its support to UNSMIL and the Deputy Special Representative, and we look forward to the renewal of the Mission’s mandate.

I thank you.

Recent Statements