Tunisia Calls for UN Resolution on Libya 'As Soon As Possible'

Tunisia, President of the UN Security Council this January, expressed its hope that the council would issue "as soon as possible" a resolution whereby an international mission would be deployed to monitor the ceasefire which has gone  into effect in Libya since the fall.

"We hope that the resolution will be adopted as soon as possible. There is momentum, but it is a bit fragile," Tunisian ambassador to the United Nations Tarek El Adab, said during a press conference.

El Adab added: "We need to adopt this mechanism (monitoring the ceasefire) and this depends on the negotiations that will take place between the Libyan parties and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) based on the proposals of the UN Secretary-General."

Tunisia, a non-permanent member of the Security Council until the end of 2021, assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council in early January. Yet, the council’s agenda for the end of the month does not include any meeting on Libya.

Last Wednesday, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, proposed an international committee to be formed with a view to monitoring Libya’s fragile ceasefire amid hopes that foreign fighters will soon leave and the country can turn the page on a decade of war.

In a letter sent to Security Council members, the UN chief called for the formation of a monitoring group, including civilians and retired soldiers from regional groups such as the African Union, European Union, and Arab League.

“The warring sides, which reached a ceasefire on October 23 in Geneva, both want to avoid armed and uniformed foreign troops, Guterres said.

“I call on all national, regional and international stakeholders to respect the provisions of the ceasefire agreement and ensure its implementation without delay,” Guterres said in the letter dated Tuesday.

“I encourage member states and regional organizations to support the operationalization of the ceasefire mechanism, including by providing inpidual monitors under the auspices of the United Nations.”

He called in particular for all nations to respect the UN arms embargo on Libya, which has been flagrantly violated.

Under Guterres’ proposal, which is likely to be debated in the new year, monitors would initially operate in a triangular section of Libya around Sirte.

The monitors would join Libyan forces in reporting in the area on the ceasefire, withdrawal of foreign forces, and removal of mines and other explosives.