Excellencies, Generals and colleagues, 

I would like to thank the 5+5 Joint Military Commission for hosting us here in Sirte. I would also like to thank the assembled Ambassadors from the Security Working Group as well as the larger group of Berlin Process representatives.  

I should also mention the historic nature of today’s Security Working Group. First, it is the third such meeting in Libya, which speaks to the progress already made by this group. Second, it is the first meeting in Sirte and in the headquarters of the 5+5 JMC. Finally, Sirte holds a deeper significance – it is the meeting point for East and West, and therefore is a city which symbolizes peace and cooperation. We hope this is the beginning of many activities to take place here between the Joint Military Commission and those that support the work they are doing to implement the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement, including capacity building programs. 

This group meets today after some delay, but we are here to rekindle the momentum and to support the work of the 5+5 and its subcommittees, including progress towards the implementation of the remaining articles of the Ceasefire Agreement. To that end, UNSMIL and the Security Working Group welcome the statement of the Joint Military Commission on 25 August and are committed to understanding Libyan security challenges, and to working together to overcome them. We look forward to hearing about the important work of the various subcommittees including the removal of foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries from Libyan territory. We are also excited to hear about the Demining Subcommittee’s efforts to make Libya safer.  

Additionally, Members of the 5+5 JMC, in their important capacities within their military institutions, continue to play an important role in de-escalation of potential tensions in Libya. The Commission has also contributed constructively to important national initiatives, including constitutional and legislative talks, reconciliation forums, de-escalation, security coordination, and engagement of armed formations. For that we thank you and encourage you to continue these essential works. 

This leads me to another important topic – seed efforts to reunify selected military departments. This is not the role of the Joint Military Commission but the purview of many Libyan security actors, and would pave the way to the broader unification of military and security institutions. This would also contribute to unified Libyan sovereignty and territorial integrity. This work may take time, but the dividends will be enormously beneficial to Libya and the people we are all here to serve. 

Excellencies, Generals and colleagues, 

Conflict prevention remains an important part of UNSMIL’s mandate. Although our mutual efforts have been effective, they need strenghtning. We therefore hope to consider a formal joint deconfliction / communication mechanism within Libya. This will help to ensure that “misunderstandings” do not threaten peace, security and lives. 

The UN Mission is also actively facilitating important discussions between the HoR and HCS defense and national security committees to review areas of common interest in national, security-related, legislation and to implement numerous recommendations, reached after continuous consultations with security officials across the country.  

Finally, we are also encouraged by the efforts to adopt the Code of Conduct, agreed in May 2024, for Libyan all security actors. This Code was developed by a broad range of Libyan stakeholders, is based on existing Libyan law, and, together with the Law of Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law, will help set a national standard for the conduct of security actors and protection of civilians. This also involves listening to the representatives of civil society – including women and youth from the East, West and South – to determine how security institutions can support their communities. UNSMIL has hosted a series of meetings with such actors, and we invite Libyan security institutions to invite civilian voices in efforts to create a more secure and stable environment. 

In closing, UNSMIL reiterates its support to the 5+5 JMC and other Libyan security institutions to find solutions to your most pressing questions. I look forward to today’s discussions and many more in the months to come.  

Thank you.