The situation in Libya is not improving; on the contrary, escalation in recent weeks and months threatens to completely tear the country apart. Not even a global pandemic has managed to put a halt to this development. While the whole world closed its borders, ships, planes and trucks carrying weapons and mercenaries kept arriving in Libyan cities. The people in Libya are the primary ones suffering from these developments. Moreover, there is an increased risk that the conflict could spread to the region. The international community cannot stand back and do nothing.

We have therefore decided, six months after the Berlin Conference on Libya, to also invite the participants of this conference and other relevant actors to today’s meeting of the UN Security Council that is being chaired by Germany. I am pleased that Secretary-General Guterres supports our initiative and that, together with acting Head of UNSMIL Williams, he will brief us on the situation in Libya. Many of my colleagues have accepted the invitation – and that, too, is good news.

What is needed for a return to an intra-Libyan political process is on the table: full compliance with the arms embargo, unanimous support by the international community of a UN-led process, and finalisation and implementation of a permanent, lasting ceasefire by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission.

We have always emphasised that finding a political solution to the conflict in Libya will not be easy. However, this will not keep us from working with urgency for the long-term stabilisation of Libya, and for preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty.