"We call on all Libyans, political parties and civil society, to support the United Nations’ ongoing efforts."
Statement by Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of the UK Mission to the UN to the Security Council Briefing by the ICC Prosecutor on her Tenth Report on Libya
I thank the Prosecutor for her tenth report on Libya and for her statement today.
I join others in expressing our deep concern at the ongoing conflict in Libya. The lack of security is having a clear, adverse impact on the Prosecutor’s investigation.
The United Kingdom shares the Prosecutor’s concerns set out in her report. Extremely grave crimes are still being committed by all parties and their allies; civilian deaths are still increasing; and violence is still being used to try to achieve political goals. We condemn all of these acts. We echo the Prosecutor’s call for States to investigate and take action against their nationals who may have committed crimes in Libya.
The violence must stop; there can be no military solution to the current crisis. We call on all Libyans, political parties and civil society, to support the United Nations’ ongoing efforts. A political settlement establishing a Government of National Accord is long overdue. A political settlement remains the best way to bring peace and security to the Libyan people, and to tackle the terrorist and extremist threat.
Tackling impunity for atrocities will also be important in the coming months. Judicial cooperation between the Office and Libyan authorities is vital in this regard. We encourage the Libyan Prosecutor-General and the Libyan Representative to the Court to continue to engage with the Prosecutor. We also urge all States to support the Prosecutor in her investigation and to assist the Libyan authorities in their efforts to build the rule of law.
We thank the Prosecutor for her briefing on the cases against Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi. We find the reports of torture and inhumane acts in the Al-Hadba prison concerning, and support action taken by the Prosecutor with the Libyan authorities. We note that the Prosecutor’s Office is still of the view that the case against Mr Al-Senussi remains inadmissible.
We are also concerned by the death sentence handed down to Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi. Libya has also failed to comply with requests for cooperation by the ICC, including the request to surrender Mr Gaddafi. We reiterate that Libya is obliged to cooperate fully with the ICC and the Prosecutor, as set out in resolutions 2213 and 2238, and we call on Libya to surrender Mr Gaddafi without delay.
We look forward to the Prosecutor’s further views following receipt of the UNSMIL report on Mr Gaddafi and Mr Al-Senussi’s trials, the full judgment of the Libyan court and other relevant information.
We note the Prosecutor’s concerns regarding resources, and recognise the financial and capacity constraints faced by her Office. We are working for a budget outcome that will meet both the needs of the Court and be sensitive to the resources available.
Thank you.