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UN / LIBYA
STORY: UN / LIBYA
TRT: 2:38
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 04 SEPTEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
04 SEPTEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya:
“The United Nations will remain in Libya. Naturally, we will work to mitigate further the risk to our personnel and operations, but the tragic irony is that the worse the situation on the ground becomes, the greater the need for our presence, mediation efforts, and provision of humanitarian assistance.”
4. Wide shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya:
“I reiterate the call on the authorities in the east to investigate the enforced disappearance of Madam Sergewa and make the findings known. These authorities are responsible for the safety and security of the people under their territorial control and they must take all necessary steps to clarify her whereabouts. The voices of Libya’s elected representatives cannot be allowed to be quashed through intimidation or enforced disappearance.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya:
“The violence in Libya is exacerbated by the supply of additional arms, ammunition and war materiel into the country. Violations of the arms embargo have been both routine and often blatant by both of the main parties to the conflict and their respective sponsor Member States.”
8. Wide shot, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach, Lawyers for Justice in Libya:
“The threat of reprisals and retaliation for participating in politics or carrying out human rights work, combined with a lack of accountability for such acts, or specific steps by the UN-backed government to address these risks, has effectively forced women out of public life.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Elmahdi S. Elmajerbi, Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations:
“My country’s delegation would like to reaffirm that confront the assault on Tripoli is a national duty being carried out by the internationally recognized Government of National Accord, as any other government must do to preserve the security and stability of its people. We reiterate our position that the aggressor could never be a partner in the civilian democratic state, and the past experience has proven this by rejection of state institutions and his complete refusal to submit the armed forces to a civilian authority.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
UN Special Representative for Libya Ghassan Salamé said the UN would “remain in Libya” following a bombing in August which killed three staff members and injured two others adding that “the tragic irony is that the worse the situation on the ground becomes, the greater the need for our presence, mediation efforts, and provision of humanitarian assistance.”
Addressing the Council today (04 Sep), Salamé paid tribute to the fallen staff members and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He requested that the Libyan authorities cooperate with the UN investigation into the incident to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Special Representative said, since General Haftar’s offensive on Tripoli in April, the conflict has spread geographically and has exacted a heavy toll on civilians and those fighting. To date, more than 100 civilians have been killed and over 300 injured, and 120,000 civilians have been displaced.
He added that the situation in the southern town of Murzuq continued to be grave, with over 100 people killed in fighting between Tebu and Ahali communities. He expressed his concern that events in Murzuq may spill-over to other cities where different tribes and ethnic groups have until recently lived in peace.
Salamé said he was very disappointed to report that there has been no news regarding the fate of the House of Representatives member Siham Sergewa since she was abducted from her home in Benghazi on 17 July.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya:
“I reiterate the call on the authorities in the east to investigate the enforced disappearance of Madam Sergewa and make the findings known. These authorities are responsible for the safety and security of the people under their territorial control and they must take all necessary steps to clarify her whereabouts. The voices of Libya’s elected representatives cannot be allowed to be quashed through intimidation or enforced disappearance.”
The Special Represetative said despite calls and Government claims to have shuttered the Tajoura Detention centre, which was the site of the deadly airstrike in July, migrants continue to be sent there. He noted that migrants and refugees continue to be detained on compounds controlled by armed groups placing them in extreme danger.
Salamé stressed that the violence in Libya “is exacerbated by the supply of additional arms, ammunition and war materiel into the country. Violations of the arms embargo have been both routine and often blatant by both of the main parties to the conflict and their respective sponsor Member States.” He added that the reported recent arrival of thousands of mercenaries into the country risks the further extension and escalation of the conflict.
The Special Representative said it remained abundantly clear that without the commitment of key external actors engaged in Libya, the conflict would continue.
Libyan human rights defender Marwa Mohamed said the growing civil society movement following the 2011 uprising in the country disrupted by increased intimidation and violence.
SOUNDBITE (English) Marwa Mohamed, Head of Advocacy and Outreach, Lawyers for Justice in Libya:
“The threat of reprisals and retaliation for participating in politics or carrying out human rights work, combined with a lack of accountability for such acts, or specific steps by the UN-backed government to address these risks, has effectively forced women out of public life.”
Mohamed said the state's inability to control the activities of armed groups and militias has left women vulnerable, with no accountability for attacks against them. She called on the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire in Libya and ensure that all civilians are protected from attacks, including sexual and gender-based violence.
Libyan ambassador Elmahdi Elmajerbi said the offensive the Libyan capital has killed hundred and displaced thousands, while destroying infrastructure including the airport.
He added, “My country’s delegation would like to reaffirm that confront the assault on Tripoli is a national duty being carried out by the internationally recognized Government of National Accord, as any other government must do to preserve the security and stability of its people. We reiterate our position that the aggressor could never be a partner in the civilian democratic state, and the past experience has proven this by rejection of state institutions and his complete refusal to submit the armed forces to a civilian authority.”
Elmajerbi welcomed Salamé’s call for an international conference with the participation of all international actors in the country but stressed the need for a national conference which would precede it. He said this would crystallise the will of the Libyan people which can then be supported by the international community.
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