S/PV.6046
6046th meeting
Tuesday, 16 December 2008, 3 p.m.
New York
Somalia
Mr. Ettalhi (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): Once again we welcome your presence, Sir, and thank you for presiding over the Council. We also wish to welcome Their Excellencies the Ministers and His Excellency the Secretary-General and to thank him for his statement. The Council is meeting today to consider the situation in Somalia and the mounting acts of piracy off its coast during the last months of the year.
It is important that we benefit from the momentum created and use the international solidarity that developed lately in the form of several initiatives — notably, the International Conference on Piracy around Somalia, which took place in Nairobi in December 2008 — and move beyond the limited points of view and partial reactions and seek a comprehensive solution to the problem in Somalia.
It is well-known that Somalia has been in a state of instability for the last two decades, which has led to the collapse of State institutions and the rule of law. That situation has exacerbated the suffering of the Somali people, whose lands and waters have been appropriated. The piracy incidents have threatened the assistance programmes that were set up for the Somali people, in addition to the effects on other countries overlooking the Red Sea and on the security of international maritime navigation in the region.
We believe that we must deal with the political situation in Somalia — as that is the situation that has led to all of the problems — in a comprehensive manner that addresses the root causes of the crisis, and we must not limit our efforts to the symptoms and repercussions of the problems. Those problems must be dealt with in a manner that promotes and expands the political process and ensures the implementation of what has been and will be agreed upon, in particular the recent Djibouti Agreement.
During the past few months, the Council has focused on combating piracy. Considerable efforts have been expended to reach consensus on several important resolutions, which represent undoubtedly positive and commendable efforts. Yet, it must not be forgotten that Somali piracy as a phenomenon, as it has been discussed, clearly resulted from the collapse of the Somali State and the attendant consequences of that collapse, such as the lack of security and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions. Thus, the most effective solution to the problem of piracy requires a comprehensive approach in which the efforts of the international community would join regional efforts and would begin by improving the security situation by providing effective support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Those actions would be in preparation for an international force with a clear mandate to improve the humanitarian condition of the Somali people and to create an environment conducive to the promotion of the political process and the realization of national reconciliation.
Libya voted for the resolution because it supports all efforts to combat piracy, which is a serious crime that must be stopped and whose perpetrators must be pursued and brought to justice. Yet, Libya is of the view that measures taken by the Council to condemn and combat piracy off the Somali coast must be based on, and must take into account, complete respect for and commitment to the sovereignty of Somalia, its territorial integrity and its political independence. Such measures must also be taken in coordination with AMISOM in the field and pursuant to the provisions of international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Needless to say, the measures — including the resolution adopted today — taken to deal with a specific situation have no relation whatsoever to any other situation except the situation in Somalia, and they have been taken without prejudice to the rights and obligations of other States, in conformity with international law and without establishing a new international norm.
In short, measures to combat piracy must, in our view, seek to enhance the leading role of the United Nations and must confirm to the rules and principles of international law and all of its sources, including the Charter.
