By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 18, more here — The UN, after ousting Tarek Mitri as envoy in favor of Bernardino Leon, has been promoting its good works in Geneva and in the country.
On February 18, speaking before the foreign ministers of Libya (Tobruk) and Egypt, Leon again cited his own work: “given the sense of urgency, I have called for the next meeting of the political dialogue to finalize discussions initiated in Geneva on the formation of government of national unity and security arrangements to pave the way for a formal and comprehensive cessation of hostilities.”
After Leon, Libya’s foreign minister said he is not requesting an international intervention, only wants Egypt’s help.
After the meeting at a stakeout by the foreign ministers of Libya and Egypt, Inner City Press asked if they wanted other countries’ military help. Some video here.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry replied that they want “solidarity,” and “consistency” with the approach against ISIS taken in Iraq and Syria. (Those are two different approaches, of course.)
The lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the Libyan government in 2011 is being proposed. Qatar may be against that – but what about Security Council member(s)? We’ll have more on this – and see below.
In the meeting, Shoukry said he is counting on Jordan to distribute the draft resolution.
At the Security Council stakeout before the Jordan-requested meeting began, UK Ambassador Lyall Grant said the meeting would provide a chance to hear from Libya and Egypt; he said he hadn’t yet seen the draft resolution. (Another non-Arab Permanent Representative said they HAD seen the draft.)
Asked if he wanted to see a national unity government first, Russia’s Ambassador Churkin said “That is not the line of our thinking.”
What will be the positions on the proposed lifting of the arms embargo on Libya’s government in placed since Resolution 1970 of 2011, which also referred Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court?
That Qatar is opposed is one thing. But what about Security Council member(s) like Russia?
After the open meeting, Churkin said (and InnerCityPro transcribed)
“There have been some past experiences where the weapons that were acquired by the Libyan government were spreading all over the country. We need to look into it. Even legal supplies of weapons to the government, under the current situation, we have the concern they may spread through Libya or through the region. So that part of the situation needs to be addressed.”