Acting SRSG to Libya Stephanie Koury met with several key Tripoli-based security officials this week to discuss military unification and promoting stability.
On 10 December, Koury met with the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Deputy Minister of Defense, Abdussalam al-Zoubi, discuss ing the basic elements of the political process, and agreeing on the importance of maintaining stability and supporting the unification of the Libyan military institutions. They agreed to continue close coordination at the technical level to move forward. She also met with the GNU Minister of Interior Emad Trabelsi the same day to discuss elements of the UN-facilitated political process as well as the need to maintain security and stability. This included the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen law and order in Tripoli and other cities and efforts to combat crime and human trafficking.
On 11 December, Koury met with Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army Muhammed al-Haddad. They agreed on the importance of military reunification and the need to build and maintain effective, accountable national institutions that serve and protect Libya and its people. On 14 December, Koury met with Zintani commander Osama Juwaili in al-Aziziyya. They discussed the current political and security developments, as well as the way forward to move the country towards elections, unify state institutions—including the military and security —and promote lasting peace and stabil ity in Libya.
At the UNSC session on 16 December, the US representative said ‘there is a pending Libyan request before the Security Council to strengthen coordination and information sharing among Libyan security forces, as well as Libya’s counterterrorism and border security capabilities.’ She said the US fully supports Libya’s request to promote east-west integration, which is in the spirit of the security integration objectives enshrined in numerous Council resolutions and supported by Libya’s 5+5 Joint Military Com mission.