PRESS RELEASE : The political process must move forward to deliver the stability and security the people of Libya want and deserve – UK statement at the Security Council [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 June 2023.
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.
President, I would like to start by thanking SRSG Bathily, Ambassador Ishikane, and Ms Imneina, for their briefings today.
I visited Libya earlier this month, to meet the SRSG and the UNSMIL team. I want to thank them for their engagement and tireless efforts to support Libya on its path to peace and stability.
During my visit, I also met Libyan people to hear and understand their concerns. The clear and consistent message was the urgency of moving the political process forward and for political leadership to deliver the stability and security the people of Libya want and deserve as we have heard so clearly from the SRSG.
But this is not just an abstract point about politics and governance. I visited a World Health Organisation health centre project, to which the UK has contributed over two and a half million dollars of funding. I want to thank the WHO for facilitating my visit and for their work to bring physical and mental health support into primary healthcare services in Libya. This is important work but the point is that the political impasse directly impacts the healthcare system, and Libyans who need healthcare, antenatal checks, dental treatment, primary care and so on.
Hospital services, healthcare provision and long-term investment, which Libya can well afford, are stalled because of the political impasse.
President, I therefore return from my visit with clarity about the importance of Council Members and the international community supporting SRSG Bathily in his work to facilitate an effective political process for positive change, through a clear roadmap to successful elections and beyond.
In this context, the UK takes note of the 6+6 Committee’s hard work to agree draft electoral laws. However, the reception to their announcement demonstrates the need for broader political agreement between Libyan power-holders and we welcome the SRSG’s commitment to convene stakeholders to reach agreement to make the draft law implementable. Only in this way can we overcome the issues preventing elections and then make progress towards long-term stability.
President during my visit, Libyan people told me they want to engage actively, freely and safely in the political sphere. They want to exercise their democratic right to vote, to work towards a better future, and move beyond, as the SRSG said, slogans which prolong the status quo and are detrimental to Libya people.
The UK will continue our work to ensure these aspirations are fulfilled – including through our support to the SRSG and his efforts towards peace and stability.
Thank you.
