Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to work towards finding a political solution to the conflict in Libya.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK remains deeply concerned by the situation in Libya. We are actively engaged in international diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the fighting and a return to the UN-led political process. As penholder on Libya in the UN Security Council, we agreed a Security Council statement on 6 July condemning the abhorrent attack on the Tajoura migrant detention centre, in which so many lost their lives. The UK, US, France, Italy, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates agreed a statement on 16 July, supporting the mediation efforts of UN Envoy Ghassan Salame and calling for a halt to the fighting and return to UN-led political talks. There can be no military solution in Libya; only an inclusive political settlement will bring about the stability its citizens deserve.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the assault on the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Libya.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK remains deeply concerned by the situation in Libya. We are actively engaged in international diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the fighting and a return to the UN-led political process. As penholder on Libya in the UN Security Council, we agreed a Security Council statement on 6 July condemning the abhorrent attack on the Tajoura migrant detention centre, in which so many lost their lives. The UK, US, France, Italy, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates agreed a statement on 16 July, supporting the mediation efforts of UN Envoy Ghassan Salame and calling for a halt to the fighting and return to UN-led political talks. There can be no military solution in Libya; only an inclusive political settlement will bring about the stability its citizens deserve.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will support calls for a UN Investigation into the recent airstrike on a migrant detention centre in Tripoli.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK condemns the abhorrent attack on the detention centre in Tajoura and supports the UN Secretary-General's call for an investigation. We are clear that the full facts of this attack must be established and, ultimately, those responsible for violations of International Humanitarian Law must be held to account. This tragic incident underlines the need for all parties to de-escalate, allow humanitarian access, and return to UN political mediation.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his French counterpart on arms sales to combatants in the conflict in Libya.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We are concerned by reports of military equipment entering Libya from a range of sources. We take all such reports seriously, given the UN arms embargo. On 16 July the UK agreed a P3+3 statement (by the UK, US, France, Italy, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates), calling on all UN member states to fully respect their obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to contribute to Libya's peace and stability and to prevent destabilising arms shipments to Libya.