Delivered by H.E. Mohamed Abushahab, Deputy Permanent Representative

UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

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Madam President,

I thank both the Under-Secretary-General, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, and Ambassador Tirumurti, for their comprehensive briefings. I also welcome the participation of Ambassador Taher M. El-Sonni in today’s meeting.

Madam President,

The future of the political process in Libya remains unclear and is still threatened by the competition for power and potential of renewed clashes among armed groups, especially in the capital of Tripoli. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see the efforts made by Libyan parties to diffuse tensions and avoid falling into a cycle of violence, even amid their present differences, in order to give the inter-Libyan dialogue an opportunity to move forward. These efforts deserve the support of the international community at this critical juncture.

We also stress that there is a need to end transitional phases to realize the will of Libyan people, in conducting free, fair, inclusive, and credible presidential and parliamentary elections, in accordance with a date agreed upon by the Libyan people. In this regard, we welcome all good offices and initiatives aimed at achieving these goals and resolving the Libyan crisis.

We also welcome the understanding achieved among the Libyan parties during the consultations held in Cairo over the constitutional basis for elections. We value Egypt’s role in this regard, and we hope that a similar agreement among the Libyan parties will be achieved on the remaining issues during the upcoming meeting in June. The UAE also highlights the need to include women and youth in every step of the state-building process in Libya.

It is critical to not lose sight of the objectives in order to achieve a comprehensive national reconciliation and initiate a genuine dialogue that includes all parts of the Libyan society. These efforts will support confidence-building measures among all parties and political actors in Libya. They will also preserve the unity and the interests of the Libyan state and promote peaceful coexistence in the country.

To achieve sustainable peace, it is important for the Joint Military Commission (5+5) to maintain its impartiality. We also call on the Commission to resume its meetings, to safeguard security and military gains, particularly in combating extremism, terrorism, infiltration of borders, and smuggling.

To continue the process of state-building, all vital Libyan institutions must be unified and not politicized. These institutions are owned by the Libyan people, and their independence is essential to enable them to carry out their activities amid the current political conditions and turmoil. Libyan resources and wealth must also be preserved and managed fairly, transparently, and equitably.

In conjunction with these endeavors, it is important to intensify efforts to enforce the rule of law in Libya and protect its security and stability. Efforts of this type will help to address the issue of migration in Libya and the wider African region, which requires the international community to support countries of origin and transit as they work to address the root causes of this issue.

Regarding the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), we look forward to its ongoing restructuring, in accordance with the recommendations contained in the independent strategic review report, and we also look forward to seeing the Mission led by a Special Representative based in Tripoli. In this regard, we stress the need for the Secretary-General to urgently appoint a Special Representative in line with Council Resolution 2629.

In conclusion, my country affirms its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya, and we hope that efforts will be increased to achieve national consensus and overcome the current political impasse.

Thank you, Madam President.