Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, PR of Latvia to the United Nations at the UN Security Council Briefing on Libya
New York, 18 February 2026
Thank you Mr. President,
I wish to thank SRSG Ms. Hanna Tetteh for her briefing, as well as the civil society representative Mr. Ahmed Albibas for the insightful presentation on the situation in Libya.
I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Libya to this meeting.
Mr. President,
Let me address three main points:
First: Latvia reiterates its full and steadfast support for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), SRSG Ms. Tetteh, and the ongoing efforts to implement the political roadmap aimed at advancing a Libyan-led and Libyan owned political process.
We commend the staff of UNSMIL for their dedication in carrying out the mission’s vital role, and also their efforts to address human rights violations, as shown in yesterday’s report.
It has been almost six months since the roadmap was presented to the Libyan stakeholders and to this Council.
However, the political divisions continue to hinder the unification and stability of the country. We stress that the political will of all Libyan actors is essential to move the country towards stability and unity.
While holding national municipal elections is an encouraging step, agreement on the electoral framework still has to be reached.
The Board of the High National Elections Commission’s (HNEC) still has to be fully formed as a unified body.
These delays along with divided judiciary further undermine the legitimacy of institutions.
In this light, we urge the parties to increase their efforts to finally reach the necessary compromise and carry out their tasks.
Additionally, we encourage continued coordination with all international and regional partners to ensure that mediation efforts are aligned and mutually reinforcing. A coherent approach is essential to prevent parallel tracks, strengthen Libyan ownership, and advance the implementation of the political roadmap.
UN-led mediation is the key to revive the political process and achieve a lasting political solution, based on Libyan ownership and consensus.
Despite the challenges, UNSMIL and SRSG Tetteh continue to have our full trust and support.
Second: Improved engagement between political actors and civil society is needed to create conditions for credible elections.
We welcome the convening of the Structured dialogue and its various tracks.
It is an opportunity to addresses governance, economic management, security, and reconciliation challenges. It can shape the path to long term stability. We urge that all stakeholders including civil society, women and youth are involved and actively participate in the implementation of the political roadmap. Continued work with government institutions, local authorities, and civil society in Libya is essential towards unification of institutions.
We hope that the recommendations coming out of the Structured dialogue will be seriously considered by the relevant authorities.
Third, even with fragile stability, security threats still persist.
Political deadlock deepens the economic challenges and increases risks of armed violence. Furthermore, it provides grounds for malign foreign actors to expand their influence, complicating prospects for a sovereign, unified and stable Libya.
We call on all parties to fully respect and comply with the UN arms embargo on Libya. In this regard, I would like to highlight the important role of European Union’s Operation IRINI, in contributing to the implementation of the arms embargo and combating illicit trafficking.
Current security threats and political divisions also limit the ability to address the adverse effects of climate change and their impact on stability in Libya. We stress that unified institutions and decision-making would significantly improve country’s ability to anticipate, manage and respond to climate shocks as outlined in the stakeout before this meeting.
Mr. President,
In conclusion - Latvia supports the determination of the Libyan people for free and fair national elections - a fundamental step towards a unified state.
For far too long political mistrust has deprived Libyans the opportunity to make their choice.
People in Libya deserve the right to shape their future.
People in Libya deserve to be heard.
We urge all the involved parties to finally come together and put the interest of the Libyan people first and put an end to years of political division, armed conflict and economic instability.
Thank you.