The Security Council confirms its support for the political process under Libyan leadership and ownership.
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Tripoli, March 17, 2023 (LANA) - The UN Security Council issued a new presidential statement confirming its strong commitment to conducting an inclusive political process led and owned by the Libyans, with the facilitation of the United Nations and the support of the international community.
In its presidential statement issued on Thursday evening, the Council also affirmed its strong support for the people of Libya to determine who will rule them through elections and to ensure that this legitimate request is heard through the political process.
The Security Council commended the role played by Egypt in facilitating the talks in Cairo between the House of Representatives and the Supreme Council of State, welcoming in this regard the gradual progress made on the constitutional framework for elections and the thirteenth amendment to the Constitutional Declaration.
The Security Council recognized the continuing role of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, stressing the need for new impetus to build on this progress, to secure the legal basis and political consensus necessary to hold free, fair, transparent, inclusive and secure national presidential and parliamentary elections in 2023 throughout the country and to complete the political transition in Libya.
The Security Council renewed its strong support for "Abdullah Batili", the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, especially his mediation and good offices to promote the inclusive political process in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions, praising his extensive consultations with Libyan and regional stakeholders, and the international community, to define a path based on Consensus towards the national presidential and parliamentary elections in 2023 and meeting the aspirations of all Libyans to choose their leaders through the ballot box.
The Council welcomed the support provided by the United Nations to the High National Elections Commission and encouraged its continuation, including the deployment of a needs assessment mission to enable the commission to conduct free, fair, transparent and inclusive national presidential and parliamentary elections across Libya.
In its presidential statement, the Security Council warned that individuals or entities who threaten peace, stability or security in Libya, or obstruct or undermine the successful completion of the political transition process, including by obstructing or undermining elections, may be designated under Security Council sanctions. Pointing out "also that all Libyan stakeholders have previously provided strong guarantees to support and respect the independence and integrity of the electoral process, as well as the election results," reiterating its "call on them to adhere to these guarantees, in line with their political responsibilities towards the Libyan people," stressing the importance of conducting a process of comprehensive reconciliation based on the principles of transitional justice and accountability.
The Security Council urged Member States to respect and support the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and action plan signed on October 23, 2020, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from the country without further delay.
The Security Council expressed grave concern about the smuggling of migrants, refugees and human trafficking through Libya, and about the situation faced by migrants and refugees, including children. It called for supporting more efforts to strengthen Libyan border management, and further urged the Libyan authorities to respect and protect the human rights of migrants, and to take steps towards closing migrant detention centres.
At the end of its presidential statement, the Security Council reaffirmed its strong commitment to Libya's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity.
=Lana=