Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, at the UNSC briefing on the situation in Libya - April 18th, 2023

Mister President,

We thank for his briefing the Chair of the 1970 Sanctions Committee, ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane. I congratulate you, ambassador Ishikane, on your assuming the chairmanship of the Committee earlier this year. You can count on my delegation’s support as you steer the Committee’s work during our mandate in the Council. 

I would also like to thank for his presentation the Special Representative for Libya, Mr. Bathily. Brazil supports his objective and approach towards enabling the Libyan stakeholders to agree on the necessary constitutional and legal framework for the realisation of elections in Libya in 2023.

Brazil further commends the Special Representative’s commitment to the principle of national ownership in his extensive engagements with all Libyan stakeholders. We underscore the importance that UNSMIL, under his leadership, continue to provide mediation and good offices across Libya in support of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political transition, in compliance with the mission’s mandate. I welcome the Permanent Representative of Libya to this meeting.

We are hopeful that the SRSG’s proposal to establish a High-Level Panel for Elections will contribute to bringing all Libyan stakeholders together, in a manner that fosters genuine intra-Libyan dialogue. In our view, such dialogue should build upon the progress already achieved on the constitutional framework by the House of Representatives and the High State Council, whose continued role has been acknowledged by this Council in its latest PRST.

The agreement between the two Libyan chambers to establish the 6+6 Joint Committee may well contribute to achieving the shared goal of elections in 2023. We encourage the delivery of concrete and measurable results by the 6+6 committee, with the necessary sense of urgency, on the remaining issues in preparation for national elections. Swift progress would contribute to dispelling concerns that the establishment and work of this new committee would actually compete and stall efforts by the SRSG to break the current political deadlock.

Brazil welcomes the fact that several Libyan military and security leaders, from all parts of Libya, have come together in meetings in Tunis, Tripoli and Benghazi, over the past weeks and months, under the auspices of UNSMIL. Their commitment to creating an environment conducive to elections will be key for the success of the political transition through the ballot box. We also commend their efforts towards unifying the armed forces.

The recent reinvigoration of liaison committees with neighbouring countries on the part of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) represents an important step towards the coordinated withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. Given the connection between the situation in Libya and that of the Sahel, we further emphasize the importance of regional coordination, greater coherence amongst UN actors, including UNSMIL, missions and agencies operating in the Sahel, as well as collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission. We acknowledge the efforts of Egypt in support of the JMC activities.

Brazil recalls the role that the Peacebuilding Commission can play, upon Libyan request, to help promoting in Libya an integrated, strategic and coherent peacebuilding approach. The Council acknowledged this role relative to the situation in Libya last year, when adopting resolution 2656, which renewed the mandate of UNSMIL.

We therefore encourage the Libyan authorities to engage with the Peacebuilding Commission, in order to mobilise support for Libya’s national peacebuilding priorities, in full respect of Libyan sovereignty.

Finally, Brazil remains concerned with reports by the panel of experts of violations of the arms embargo established by resolution 1970. We reiterate our calls for strict compliance with the terms of the arms embargo as well as the sanctions regime more generally. Also, we reiterate our commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya

And I thank you.