first of all I would like to thank Ms. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, special representative of the Secretary General, for her presentation and greet the presence among us of Mr. Taher Mr. El-Sonni, permanent representative of Libya.
Fourteen years after the Revolution, the aspirations of the Libyan people with a better future remain entirely. This is why our council must continue to support the United Nations efforts to get out of the current impasse and revive a political process led by Libyans and for Libyans. Only its culmination will allow Libya to regain its unity, its stability, its sovereignty for the prosperity of the Libyan people.
France would like to send four main messages today.
1/ To you first, Madam Special Representative, we repeat our full support in the mission that the Secretary General has entrusted to you. The support of the United Nations is fundamental for the resumption of the political process in Libya. We salute the work carried out by the Advisory Committee formed under the aegis of the Manul in order to make recommendations in this sense.
2/ Second message, the Libyan forces must put themselves in an emergency agreement on a project for Libya. The devaluation of the dinar sounds the alarm. There is an urgency to go beyond blockages and to achieve the formation of a new unified government capable of organizing presidential and legislative elections as soon as possible, in accordance with the legitimate expectations of the Libyan people and the resolutions of the Security Council. France calls on all Libyan and international actors to cooperate with the special representative to allow the revival of the political process and calls them to overcome political struggles for the control of Libyan institutions. It is necessary to put an end to the crisis at the head of the High Council of State and to preserve the independence of the Libyan audit office to guarantee the transparency and the lIBYEN institutions. This requirement of transparency must also result in economic level with a view to improving the governance of financial institutions. Respect for the independence and integrity of financial institutions and the implementation of reforms are essential, as well as an agreement on a unified budget and on the establishment of fair and transparent distribution mechanisms of resources, especially oil. In this regard, the continuation of clandestine oil exploitation and export is worrying.
3/ Third message, the security situation in Libya, which remains fragile. The political dead end feeds the insecurity and instability of the country. This is why our advice must focus its efforts on three objectives. First of all, supporting the coordination efforts of the security actors of the West and the East who were initiated. The resurgence of tensions in recent weeks, especially in Tripolitania, illustrates the growing hold of militias and recalls the urgency of the reunification of Libyan military and security institutions. Then, we must strengthen our support for the Manul in the implementation of the withdrawal plan of all foreign forces, foreign and mercenaries of the Libyan territory, endorsed in 2021 by the United Nations. Finally, respect for the arms embargo is imperative to help Libya regain its security and control of its borders. The authorizations implemented by this council since 2016 to allow member states and regional organizations to inspect ships suspected of violating the embargo on arms contribute to this objective, in particular via the Irini operation of the European Union.
4/ Finally, last message, human rights violations in Libya are worrying, in particular arbitrary detentions and arrests. The measures taken to restrict the space of civil society and the action of NGOs authorized to work in Libya do not go in the right direction. Conversely, the access granted recently by the Libyan authorities to certain detention centers is an encouraging step and must continue. France supports the United Nations call to end impunity for the most serious crimes. We call on the Libyan authorities to amplify their efforts to ensure the protection of the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, with the help of international organizations. On the humanitarian level, we encourage the Libyan authorities to facilitate the access of humanitarian actors and to ensure their protection.
France will remain alongside Libya and Libyans so that the country regains its unity, its stability, its sovereignty and its people can assume its new destiny fully. And we are fully engaged with the special representative, towards whom our wishes and our encouragement go.
Thank you.
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