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STORY: UN / LIBYA VOTE
TRT: 02:55
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS
DATELINE: 28 JULY 2022, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters
28 JULY 2022, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Various shots, Security Council vote
4. UPSOUND (English) Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Brazil:
“Will those in favour of the draft resolution contained in document S/2022/580 please raise their hand.”
5. UPSOUND (English) Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Brazil:
“The result of the voting is as follows 12 votes in favour, no votes against, three abstentions.”
6. Wide shot, Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United Kingdom:
“We share the frustration of our African colleagues at the short three-month mandate. Their abstention is understandable, given Russia's refusal to join consensus on our proposals for a longer mandate for UNSMIL. Russia's approach goes against what Libya, the region, and the UN have requested.”
8. Wide shot, Council
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Russian Federation:
“It is not normal for UNSMIL to have been left decapitated for such a long time, which limits the tools at its disposal to support the Libyan dialogue. The tenure of Stephanie Williams in the post of Special Adviser to the Secretary General without an appropriate Security Council mandate has been unjustifiably prolonged despite assurances that the appointment was a temporary measure. We insist on Antonio Guterres promptly submitting for subsequent approval by members of the Security Council, a worthy and authoritative candidate for the post of a Special Representative for Libya and the head of UNSMIL, one that would suit the main Libyan actors as well as regional stakeholders.”
10. Wide shot, Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United States:
“Russia's specious contention that a three-month mandate would somehow assist the Secretariat in securing the Council's full support for an SRSG nominee has already been proven false. To the contrary, as the Secretariat has stated numerous times, a short duration only further complicates the Secretariat’s efforts. Revisiting the mandate every few months makes it much harder for UNSMIL to implement long term plans. It makes it harder to develop sustainable solutions to Libya's challenges. And it makes it harder to recruit the best candidate for the role.”
12. Wide shot, Council
The Security Council today (28 Jul) voted to renew the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for a period of three months, until 31 October. The three African Council members, Gabon, Ghana and Kenya, known as the A3, abstained.
After the vote, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Barbara Woodward, said “we share the frustration of our African colleagues at the short three-month mandate. Their abstention is understandable, given Russia's refusal to join consensus on our proposals for a longer mandate for UNSMIL. Russia's approach goes against what Libya, the region, and the UN have requested.”
Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy for his part said, “it is not normal for UNSMIL to have been left decapitated for such a long time, which limits the tools at its disposal to support the Libyan dialogue. The tenure of Stephanie Williams in the post of Special Adviser to the Secretary General without an appropriate Security Council mandate has been unjustifiably prolonged despite assurances that the appointment was a temporary measure. We insist on Antonio Guterres promptly submitting for subsequent approval by members of the Security Council, a worthy and authoritative candidate for the post of a Special Representative for Libya and the head of UNSMIL, one that would suit the main Libyan actors as well as regional stakeholders.”
United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Council that “Russia's specious contention that a three-month mandate would somehow assist the Secretariat in securing the Council's full support for an SRSG nominee has already been proven false. To the contrary, as the Secretariat has stated numerous times, a short duration only further complicates the Secretariat’s efforts.”
She said, “revisiting the mandate every few months makes it much harder for UNSMIL to implement long term plans. It makes it harder to develop sustainable solutions to Libya's challenges. And it makes it harder to recruit the best candidate for the role.”
The resolution calls on the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Representative promptly.
Earlier this month, demonstrators across Libya expressed their frustration over political divisions and deteriorating living conditions.
They demanded that elections be held soon, and solutions to the country’s electricity crisis and fuel shortage. Some stormed and damaged the Parliament building in Tobruk, the centre of power for the eastern faction vying to control the country.
