S/PV.6128
6128th meeting
Tuesday, 26 May 2009, 10.20 a.m.
New York
Briefings by Chairmen of subsidiary bodies of the Security Council
Mr. Gouider (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me at the outset, through you, Sir, to thank the Chairmen of the three counter-terrorism sanctions Committees. We express our deep appreciation for their efforts.
The briefings we have heard demonstrate how far the work of the Committees has come and give us a sense of future plans and many of the Committees’ concerns, most of which we understand. In that context, Libya wishes to reiterate the following points.
We appreciate the positive developments in counter-terrorism efforts and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, under the leadership of Mr. Smith; the work being undertaken to ensure transparency, compliance with and adherence to resolution 1373 (2001); the preliminary review, annual reports on the implementation of the resolution, and the regional visits to developed and developing countries alike; and cooperation with the other subsidiary organs of the Security Council and several regional organizations.
We also welcome the efforts to build national capacity in developing countries. In that connection, we hope that there will be further progress in the technical assistance provided by the United Nations in place of bilateral assistance. We especially welcome efforts to implement all the objectives and provisions of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the work being carried out by various United Nations bodies and agencies.
Over the past few years, our efforts have focused on a particular objective of the Strategy, that of preventing and fighting terrorism. We understand that preventing terrorism calls for ever more effective measures. My country believes that blocking the financing of terrorism requires special attention and even more comprehensive measures. Refugee status should go hand in hand with protective measures that guarantee true enjoyment of the relevant rights in the noble humanitarian context of that status.
Moreover, it is time to strengthen efforts to attain other strategic objectives and elements and to rectify the circumstances that facilitate the proliferation of that phenomenon and that strengthen its root causes, while respecting human rights for all. We must put an end to an occupation that remains at the root of many acts of violence and much tension. We cannot put an end to such acts by accusing an entire civilization or by denying some people their right to fight against occupation or by applying double standards and selectivity and neglecting international law. All those practices are condemned daily worldwide.
With regard to the 1267 Committee, we appreciate the Committee’s efforts to improve its working methods, in particular in the context of the two important Security Council resolutions 1452 (2002) and 1822 (2008). We are glad that there has been some progress in reviewing the names on the consolidated list and we hope that that review will clearly establish the credibility of the sanctions lists. The Chairman’s briefing indicated that many people on the list are still under sanctions even though they have died — which prevents the family of the deceased from claiming their inheritance. Moreover, a number of those on the list should not be there at all. There are at least 56 persons whose names, nationality, date, place of birth and all other relevant identifiers are not present, which naturally makes it difficult for States to implement the sanctions and which might lead to sanctions being applied against an innocent person solely because of a similar name, in the absence of other identifiers. We must rectify that situation as soon as possible in the Committee by ensuring that all other identifiers are added and that unsubstantiated names are deleted from the list.
Resolution 1730 (2006) provides for focal points to receive de-listing requests, which we believe was an important step forward towards transparency in the sanctions regimes. However, further measures of that type are needed to guarantee greater transparency, fairness and clarity in such measures.
I would like to reiterate the importance of exceptions under resolution 1452 (2002). These exceptions cover the impact of sanctions on the families of listed persons and address humanitarian circumstances to ensure that sanctions do not constitute collective punishment by affecting the families of persons on the list. In other words, those sanctions should not deprive the family by freezing assets and by depriving them of income. Thus, it is important that the Committee speedily review requests for exceptions.
Turning now to the 1540 Committee, my country is aware of the great dangers posed to international peace and security by weapons of mass destruction — biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, their delivery vehicles and all related materials. The international community has based its response on multilateral legal instruments, but those instruments have not attained the required universality and are not respected by all States in the world. Thus, they are unfortunately insufficient.
Here, Libya has reflected in practical national measures its position on the complete elimination of weapons of mass destruction and remains convinced that their complete elimination is the best guarantee to prevent non-State actors from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. We believe that disarmament and non-proliferation are two mutually supportive processes and that both must advance in parallel for the best results.
Resolution 1540 (2004) sets out obligations for all countries with regard to non-proliferation. Recently, we have noted progress in that context. Libya was among the reporting countries to submit the required information and we call on all countries to honour their commitments. We are pleased to note progress in the Committee’s work — its adoption of a programme of work for the coming year and the establishment of working groups to help carry out that programme. We also appreciate its efforts to conduct a comprehensive review of the resolution’s implementation, to identify gaps and provide assistance to Member States.
In conclusion, we also support the counter-terrorism efforts of the Security Council Committees, and all efforts to achieve the international community’s objectives with regard to eliminating all aspects and manifestations of terrorism so as to ensure global peace and security.
