Sunni before the Security Council: Ending the political division is the only way to resolve the Libyan crisis.

Tripoli, April 23, 2016 (LANA) – Libya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Taher Sunni, affirmed that ending the political division is the fundamental solution and the basis for addressing the various challenges facing Libya. He warned that the continued political stalemate and loss of hope could lead to a return to conflict, fighting, and proxy wars. He called for unifying international efforts to support a path leading to general elections as soon as possible.

In his address to the Security Council, Sunni explained that Libyans are still waiting for practical, effective, and urgent solutions to overcome the crisis. He pointed out that the past years have revealed a sharp division in international approaches, which has prevented any real breakthrough to end the political deadlock and has contributed to fragile transitional phases without addressing the root causes of the crisis.

He clarified that the essence of the crisis does not lie in the absence of solutions, but rather in the conflicting international approaches, the multiplicity of uncoordinated tracks, and the marginalization of national solutions. He added that international interventions have weakened the chances of reaching a genuine and sustainable settlement and have plunged the situation into a state of unproductive repetition.

He stressed the need to avoid repeating past mistakes and to conduct an objective review of previous approaches to prevent the continuation of a crisis management pattern instead of a resolution one. This has led to a vicious cycle, deepened the trust deficit among Libyan parties, and created a crisis of confidence with the international community. He noted that the Libyan file is now being discussed without any real progress being made.

He pointed out that this reality has reinforced a general feeling that the crisis has become hostage to international power struggles that do not reflect national priorities, making Libya a frequent victim of external conflicts.

Al-Sunni called for practical solutions within the framework of dialogue, including applicable implementation mechanisms based on the participation of all relevant stakeholders. This would enhance the chances of success and sustainability. He emphasized that the aspirations of Libyans are to reach a consensual constitutional framework that leads to general elections, ending the transitional phases and renewing the legitimacy of institutions through the ballot box.

He stressed the need to direct international initiatives toward this goal within a specific timeframe, building on previous achievements, respecting national ownership of the solution, coordinating with the United Nations, and adhering to relevant Security Council resolutions.

On the economic front, Al-Sunni welcomed the agreement on the unified budget and development program between the House of Representatives and the State Council, under the auspices of the Central Bank of Libya. He considered it a pivotal step towards unifying public spending, enhancing transparency, and curbing parallel expenditures. He stressed that its implementation represents a true test of the commitment to supporting stability and improving living conditions, emphasizing the need for its equitable distribution across the country's various regions.

He also emphasized the importance of protecting Libya's frozen assets and funds abroad and preventing their misappropriation. He called for preventing oil smuggling, prosecuting those involved both domestically and internationally, imposing sanctions on them, and treating this issue with the same seriousness as arms smuggling.

He affirmed that any international or regional support for Libya must be coordinated with official institutions and contribute to the country's stability and the preservation of its resources. He noted that Libya can play a positive role in the energy sector amidst the current global crises.

In closing, he noted that extending sanctions on Libya is not an achievement, but rather evidence of the ongoing crisis. He called for unified international positions to end the crisis, support the will of the Libyan people, and remove the country from Chapter VII measures. He emphasized that the goal is to hold elections that will end the transitional phases and establish a civil state based on institutions and the rule of law.

...(LANA)...