Watching Libya September 17/18, 2011

This week, with 107 votes against, 22 in favour and 12 abstentions, the United Nations' General Assembly defeated a motion to to defer action on a draft resolution recommended by the Credentials Committee allowing the Transitional National Council (TNC) to represent Libya in the General Assembly, and in this capacity to speak and vote on its behalf. Subsequently, the Assembly approved the report of the Credentials Committee, adopting the draft resolution by a recorded vote of 114 in favour, 17 against, and 15 abstentions.

In favour of approving the resolution recognising the TNC as Libya's representative in the UN General Assemby, were:  Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen.

Against approving the resolution recognising the TNC as Libya's representative in the UN General Assembly, were:  Angola, Bolivia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea , Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nicaragua, South Africa, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The following states abstained from the vote to approve the resolution recognising the TNC as Libya's representative in the UN General Assembly:  :  Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Indonesia, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay.

Read the official report of the Plenary Session (2nd meeting, morning) of the Sixty-sixth General Assembly, for summaries of the various speeches in favour and against both the resolution and the motion to defer.

On Friday (September 16) the Security Council  - in a resolution adopted unanimously - agreed to deploy a mission to Libya (United Nations Support Mission in Libya UNSMIL) initially for three months, to support the TNC's  reconstruction efforts after the end of the conflict, including restoring the rule of law, drafting a new constitution, promoting reconciliation and preparing for elections.

UNSMIL is tasked with restoring public security and the rule of law, promoting inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, and assisting the TNC to undertake the constitution-making process and lay the basis of the electoral process, as well as to extend the authority of the state. The latter is to be achieved also through the strengthening of emerging accountable institutions, restoring public services, promoting and protecting human rights, and supporting transitional justice.

The Council also declared several modifications to the assets freeze, the no-fly zone and the arms embargo.

It exempted the Libyan National Oil Corporation and the Zueitina Oil Company from the asset freeze, and eased measures against the Central Bank of Libya, the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank (LAFB), the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), and the Libyan Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP).

States were urged by the Council to give due consideration to the use of international financial mechanisms to promote transparency and prevent misappropriation in Libya, requesting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to cooperate with the TNC to assess the country’s public financial management framework, and to recommend measures to ensure transparency and accountability with respect to the fund held by governmental institutions. (See Watching Libya September 14, 2011 on World Bank's efforts.)

Noting of the improved security situation in the country, the Council stated that  it would keep the no-fly zone restrictions under continuous review, declaring itself in favour of ending these measures when circumstances permit.  See the UN's official press statement.