Participants attend the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunis, Nov 9, 2020
UNITED NATIONS, April 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to approve the UN secretary-general’s proposal on the composition and operational aspects of a cease-fire monitoring component of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
In an April 7 letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed a “phased deployment for the UNSMIL cease-fire monitoring component, which would require an initial maximum number of 60 monitors.”
Resolution 2570 requests that UNSMIL should provide support to the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission and the Libyan Cease-fire Monitoring Mechanism (LCMM), including through the facilitation of confidence-building measures and the scalable and incremental deployment of UNSMIL cease-fire monitors once conditions allow.
It underlines the importance of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission developing plans for the LCMM; the timeline, size and geographical deployment of the UNSMIL cease-fire monitoring component; clear milestones; the expected end state and security arrangements to secure the UNSMIL cease-fire monitors.
The resolution expresses the Security Council’s intention to review the progress toward the deployment of UNSMIL cease-fire monitors by Sept. 15, 2021.
It requests that the independent strategic review of UNSMIL should take into account the cease-fire monitoring component, and further requests the secretary-general to consult the Security Council on any increase to the initial maximum number of cease-fire monitors.
The resolution calls on all Libyan parties to ensure full implementation of the Oct. 23, 2020 cease-fire agreement and strongly urges all UN member states to respect and support its implementation, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without delay.
It calls on the interim government to make the necessary preparations for free, fair and inclusive national presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 24, 2021, as set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum roadmap.
Separately, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the ban on the illicit export of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, till July 30, 2022.
Resolution 2571 also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Libya Sanctions Committee of the Security Council till Aug. 15, 2022.
It decides that the panel shall provide to the Security Council an interim report on its work no later than Dec. 15, 2021, and a final report to the council no later than June 15, 2022, with its findings and recommendations.
The resolution calls for full compliance by all UN member states with the arms embargo, the travel ban and asset freeze, and further calls on all member states not to intervene in the conflict or take measures that exacerbate the conflict. — NNN-XINHUA