Secretary-General's press encounter on Libya

As you know, I have just concluded a video-conference meeting with the various heads of regional organizations involved in the response to the crisis in Libya. Those represented included the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and the European Union. I am also very pleased to be accompanied by my Special Envoy, Abdel Elah al-Khatib, and my Special Advisor for Post-Conflict Planning, Ian Martin.

All agreed that the crisis in Libya has entered a new and decisive phase. All agreed, as well, on the importance of a smooth transition.

That transition must be grounded in inclusiveness, reconciliation and national unity –under a new government that can effectively deliver on the Libyan people's aspirations for democracy, freedom, and growing social and economic prosperity.

Clearly, the challenges ahead are enormous:

Fighting goes on in many parts of the country. There is an urgent need to put an end to the conflict and restore order and stability. All agreed that, if the Libyan authorities request, we should be prepared to help develop police capacity, bearing in mind that the country is awash with small arms.

The destruction of property and livelihoods has been heavy. There are widespread shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies. Reports on the ground suggest that the water supply to the capital and surrounding region may be in danger –putting several million people, or more, at risk.

In our meeting this afternoon, all those present agreed: at this moment of great transition, the international community must come together with an effective, well-coordinated programme of action.

Of course, the future of Libya is for Libyans to decide. Yet in our discussions this afternoon –and in our discussions with Libya's transitional authorities –one thing has been crystal clear.

All agreed that the United Nations is expected to play an essential coordinating role. The UN needs to work closely with international partners and regional organizations. We need to work with unity of purpose and speak in one voice.

For the past several months, my Special Envoy, as well as my Advisor for Post-Conflict Planning, have been working to anticipate potential needs and make operational preparations. Those plans are now well-advanced.

In Doha and elsewhere, UN envoys, as well as the heads of the regional organizations, have been consulting closely with the leaders of the National Transition Council.

Most immediately, [they] have asked for urgent humanitarian assistance, particularly as it relates to medical aid and basic public services, including water and sanitation and education.

Somewhat longer-term, they have placed special emphasis on early support for elections, transitional justice and policing, as well as assistance in social-economic recovery, rule of law and institution-building.

I intend to discuss these plans further with the Security Council including the urgent deployment of a UN mission. Yesterday's action by the Council to release $1.5 billion in frozen Libyan assets was a welcome step –but all agreed, this afternoon, that the international community must do all it can to provide additional financial resources.

Again, I want to emphasize the remarkable degree of convergence on all these issues.

At this critical moment, it is essential that the international community come together as one to restore order and ensure a stable transition in Libya.

Thank you very much.

Q: You just said that you welcomed yesterday the decision by the Security Council for the releasing of $1.5 billion to the National Transitional Council. Is the UN going to play an additional role in how those financial means are going to be distributed? We are talking about $500 million for distribution for salaries among the rebels. So what do you understand from that and what's your take on that?

SG: I understand that part of this $1.5 billion, as you understand, will be given to United Nations humanitarian agencies and we will try to use those funds to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance in a transparent and accountable manner. And of course, we have discussed the necessity of additional funds necessary, as I have already said in my remarks. Those issues will be further discussed in coming occasions in Paris and during the General Assembly in September.

Q: Can you tell us about the [Geoffrey] Palmer report on the flotilla incident? When are you going to receive the report and are you intending to make it public soon?

SG: This is not directly related, but as I have already issued a statement that I have decided to postpone, to give some more time, to both the Governments of Israel and Turkey, so that they could come out with a harmonious agreement to deal with this flotilla case. It is important that these two countries improve their bilateral relationship, overcoming this tragic flotilla incident. That is why I have given additional time, but as we are approaching the General Assembly, there is very limited time, so we will let you know.

Q: Could you tell us, you had mentioned the possibility of deploying peace monitors to Libya if the Government asked, and in a leaked copy of Mr. [Ian] Martin's report, the idea of possibly 200 military observers is mentioned. Was this discussed at all today and does this remain a possibility? Could you also tell us, [French] President [Nicolas] Sarkozy has called a meeting next week in Paris of the Contact Group. Will you be going and what is that meeting designed to accomplish?

SG: This is not the Contact Group. That is a sort of Libya support group. This is a different format now. As I said, we have entered into a different phase. I understand that almost 50 countries, including international organizations, have been invited and I'm planning to participate in that meeting, as was already announced by President Sarkozy on my behalf.

First, in our meeting, we have not discussed anything in detail as for the numbers or size or modalities of the United Nations' presence in Libya. We all agreed that in view of a very chaotic situation, a very fluid security situation, first and foremost, we need to restore public law, rule of law and establish stability, because there are so many small arms in the region that I think we thought that it might be desirable to have some policing group to handle all these matters. We have had an initial discussions led by our Special Envoy and Special Adviser with the representatives, the leadership of the National Transitional Council. I have also spoken with Mr. [Mustafa Abdul] Jalil, Chairman of National Transitional Council, two times, including this afternoon. So we will continue to discuss. I am going to meet him in Paris. We agreed to have a meeting in Paris, together with our Special Envoy and Advisers, to have a further discussion, detailed discussion, on the matter. On the basis of this, I am intending to make a recommendation to the Security Council. It is up to the Security Council to give us a mandate so that all these plans can be implemented.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, is the reluctance of African Union to recognize the transitional council holding up your efforts to get all these efforts together - the police, funds...?

SG: I have taken note of the discussions of the African Union and we have all been briefed by Mr. [Erastus] Mwencha, the deputy chairman of the African Union Commission, who participated himself here. I believe that Libyan authorities and the African Union should develop a cooperative relationship on the basis of this changing situation. Libya is an African state. Libya is a member of the African Union, and their relationship should be based in consideration of the current situation, changed situation on the ground. I believe that they will be able to have better dialogue and further dialogue on the future course of actions.

Q: Secretary-General, your very able representative was assigned to begin with, to try to negotiate between the Government and the opposition, and obviously right now you are engaged only with the Transitional National Council. Does that mean that you have already concluded that this is the official government with whom, official party with whom you are engaged for the future of Libya, although the chaotic situation that you mentioned had had led to some sort of unclarity as to who is in charge where, who is captured, who is not, so can you just tell us de facto information that you might have on the ground and de facto recognition that you have already jumped to, or concluded you should, [by the] United Nations of the TNC?

SG: Of course, the future of Libya should be determined by the Libyan people; considering all that we have witnessed, all these dramatic turn of situations, most recently. It is, I think, realistic that we discuss all these matters with the NTC [National Transitional Council] leadership. That is why I have been engaging myself and my Special Envoys have been engaging with them. Now, as I said, the African Union and League of Arab States and other regional organizations also can play an important role, but first and foremost, the important principal is that it is up to the Libyan people to determine their future, and the United Nations and other regional organizations have a role to support their future in a friendly and cooperative and transparent and accountable manner.

Thank you, thank you very much.