Checked against delivery
Let me start by thanking SRSG Tetteh for her briefing and welcome the representative of Libya to our meeting today.
Let me also give a special thanks to Ms. Nissa Bek, for bringing her perspectives to the Council, including on the adverse impact of climate change on the lives and security of the Libyan people.
I will make three points.
First,
As we have heard it’s one year since the UNSMIL roadmap was launched. Denmark continues to support the UN-led mediation efforts and we commend the efforts of SRSG Tetteh to this end. We urge Libyan political stakeholders to narrow their differences and put the interest of the people first.
In this vein, we welcome the progress made in the small group convenings.
Denmark encourages the parties to redouble their efforts to complete the first two milestones of the roadmap to create the conditions for holding national elections.
Further, the recommendations of the Structured Dialogues reflect the aspirations of Libyans for a stable and prosperous state with effective governance.
We encourage Libyan political leaders to implement them.
Second,
Denmark is concerned about the volatile security situation in Libya. Unresolved political deadlock hampers unified state security control. This was clear in the recent armed clashes which endangered civilians and damaged critical infrastructure, including Zawiya Refinery.
Denmark strongly condemns these clashes.
We call for de-escalation, and stress the need for all actors to refrain from further violence. Effective measures to protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law must be taken.
Third and finally,
As Ms. Bek clearly outlined, Libya faces growing climate-related risks, including water scarcity and rising temperatures.
When combined with weak infrastructure and institutional fragmentation, climate pressures can have a devastating impact on livelihoods and prosperity.
These risks must therefore be factored into peacebuilding, conflict-prevention and local mediation efforts.
We urge the international community to support the Libyan authorities in addressing these challenges to strengthen resilience and translate climate commitments into action.
As we’ve heard, this will have a clear impact on the lives of the people of Libya.
Thank you.
