- Title: UN calls for support for Libya govt, upholding of ban on arms
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (SEPTEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HEAD OF THE U.N. SUPPORT MISSION IN LIBYA (UNSMIL), MARTIN KOBLER, WALKING TO THE PODIUM CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF THE U.N. SUPPORT MISSION IN LIBYA, MARTIN KOBLER, SAYING: "Only strong state institutions, a political process which deserves the name of a political process to bring about a strong government, strong institutions bring the country together, will perspective-wise, reduce the human rights abuses in the country." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF THE U.N. SUPPORT MISSION IN LIBYA, MARTIN KOBLER, SAYING: "The world has not changed overnight here, and there are positive sights, in particular with the oil management. The oil had all-time low production of 200,000 barrels, now, gradually, it picks up, and this is a lifeline for the Libyan people, that more money comes into the coffers of the Central bank in order to improve the imports and to finance salaries and other basic needs and services for the population. Sixty percent of the hospitals are not working at this stage. Now, we will not wake up tomorrow morning and suddenly the health system is ok, but one has to start with a first step." UNITED NATIONS STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF THE U.N. SUPPORT MISSION IN LIBYA MARTIN KOBLER SAYING: "It is clear that there is a weapons embargo all over the country, and this is true for General Haftar's east, but this is also true for armed groups in the west. However, there are six million Libyans and 26 million weapons in the country. And my position here is very clear: these weapons do not fall from the sky. They come by sea, they come via land and there is a weapons' embargo in place which must be respected by all member states of the United Nations." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 20:56
- Keywords: Libya support UN arms ban unity government
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
- Reuters ID: LVA00151CGX8N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The head of the U.N. Support Mission in Libya called on Tuesday (September 27) for countries to support the fledging national unity government of the North African country and do more to halt banned arms shipments there.
U.N. envoy Martin Kobler also cited "positive signs" of management of Libya's oil sector and in ensuring that revenues go into the central bank's coffers.
He said the country remains plagued by corruption and an absence of the rule of law, and marked by abominable state-run detention centres where migrants trying to reach Europe are held.
The fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 brought chaos that splintered Libya into rival armed fiefdoms. A U.N.-backed Government of National Accord has been trying for months to extend its authority beyond its base in Tripoli in Western Libya.
"Only strong state institutions, a political process which deserves the name of a political process to bring about a strong government, strong institutions bring the country together, will perspective-wise, reduce the human rights abuses in the country," Kobler told reporters after addressing the U.N. Human Rights Council.
General Khalifa Haftar, who has been waging a military campaign against Islamists and other opponents in Benghazi and the east, has been in a stand-off with the GNA for months, blocking a parliamentary vote to endorse the GNA and challenging the U.N.-mediated deal to unify Libya.
Weeks ago, after taking control of oil ports, his forces have handed operational control to the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
The fact that Libya had one national oil company and one central bank, with slowly rising oil production, was a positive sign.
"The world has not changed overnight here, and there are positive sights, in particular with the oil management. The oil had all-time low production of 200,000 barrels, now, gradually, it picks up, and this is a lifeline for the Libyan people, that more money comes into the coffers of the Central bank in order to improve the imports and to finance salaries and other basic needs and services for the population. Sixty percent of the hospitals are not working at this stage. Now, we will not wake up tomorrow morning and suddenly the health system is ok, but one has to start with a first step," said Kobler.
He insisted that all U.N. member states respect the arms embargo on the North African country.
"It is clear that there is a weapons embargo all over the country, and this is true for General Haftar's east, but this is also true for armed groups in the west. However, there are six million Libyans and 26 million weapons in the country. And my position here is very clear: these weapons do not fall from the sky. They come by sea, they come via land and there is a weapons' embargo in place which must be respected by all member states of the United Nations."
Libya's Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO), a subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation, has raised its production to 261,000 barrels per day - 50,000 bpd higher than its output last week, spokesman Omran al-Zwai said on Monday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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