Security Council Renews Measures against Illicit Oil Exports from Libya

The Security Council on Thursday renewed until 31 July 2017 the measures imposed by its resolution 2146 (2014) on the prevention of illicit crude oil exports from Libya.

Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter in adopting resolution 2278 (2016), the Council extended measures requiring a vessel’s flag State to take the necessary measures to prevent ships from loading, transporting or discharging crude oil from Libya. The text also required Member States to prevent vessels carrying Libyan crude from entering their ports, and to prevent their nationals, entities or individuals on their territory from engaging in any financial transactions with respect to such crude oil.

By further terms of the text, the Council urged Member States to provide the Government of National Accord with security and capacity-building assistance in response to threats against Libya’s security and in defeating terrorist organizations operating in the country. It also urged them to improve the monitoring and control of arms or related materiel supplied, sold or transferred to Libya.

Speaking after the vote, Ibrahim Dabbashi (Libya) said his delegation had worked closely with Security Council members in drafting the resolution, which represented an additional step to help the Libyan people protect and develop their national wealth. Although the delegation had not heard any serious argument against the proposal to create a Libyan institution for investment, it was surprising that the Council had not responded to a request for the creation of such a body. The Council would, therefore, be responsible for all the losses recorded by the Libyan people, amounting to some $2 billion a year, he said. Despite the Council’s reiteration of its commitment to helping the Libyan people protect their wealth, there was a contradiction between words and deeds, which did not help build the Council’s credibility in the Libyan people’s eyes.

While expressing satisfaction at the national Government’s return of the capital, Tripoli, he emphasized, however, that Libya would not have peace and security until a legitimate Government could operate in a secure environment. The Government’s return was a critical step towards countering the presence of armed militias in the capital, which had made "hell" of people’s everyday lives. Urging all groups, as well as the Libyan people to support the Government of National Accord in facing the criminal militia trying to undermine Tripoli’s security through terrorist acts, he called upon all army and police officers to return to work on the basis of instructions from the Presidential Council. Those who tried to weaken the political process were trying to question the legitimacy of the Presidential Council and the Government of National Accord, he said, stressing that the Presidential Council and the Assembly of Deputies must work to convene an assembly of the people to endorse the Government.

Source:WAM