UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, recommended in a report released Wednesday establishing a “monitoring component” for the UN mission in Libya working alongside a ceasefire monitoring mechanism run by Libyans.
Guterres, in the report presented to the Security Council, did not say how many UN observers would be needed for the UN mission known as UNSMIL.
“I call upon the Security Council to give UNSMIL a clear but flexible mandate, supported by additional resources, to enable the United Nations to fully support the deployment of UNSMIL monitors to Libya who would eventually operate in and around Sirte and other areas if required.” Guterres said.
He added that the UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component would not be integrated under the ceasefire monitoring mechanism, but it would instead work in close coordination with the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission and the joint subcommittees.
“The role of UNSMIL monitors would be limited to the monitoring of violations of the ceasefire agreement reported by the national monitors and other local sources. The task would imply the participation of UNSMIL monitors in ground monitoring missions in the designated area.” Guterres reiterated.
He reiterated that the Libyan parties must commit to protecting UN personnel, equipment and facilities, yet he did not say how many UN staffers might be made available to the Libyan-directed ceasefire monitoring team.
According to diplomats reported by the Associated Press, the monitoring team could be as few as five.
