(As delivered)

Statement by Minister Takeshi Akahori
At the Briefing of the United Nations Security Council
On the Situation in Libya
8 May 2017

 

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

 

          I would like to begin by congratulating Uruguay on assuming the Presidency of the Council for the second time during your two years mandate, which Japan shares. We look forward to working closely with you, as a member of the same class.

 

          I would like to express my appreciation to Prosecutor Bensouda for her briefing and report. Japan is committed to the fight against impunity and to supporting the International Criminal Court, including the Office of the Prosecutor. Last month, the President of the ICC, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi visited Tokyo and met with Prime Minister Abe and other high-level officials of the Government of Japan. In their discussions, they talked about the importance of promoting the universality of the Rome Statute, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Prime Minister Abe reiterated Japan’s support for the ICC and expressed his hope that the ICC will play a greater role, thereby contributing to the establishment of the rule of law in the international community.

 

          Japan welcomes that The Gambia and South Africa have decided to rescind their withdrawals from the ICC. The ICC is an important organ in the fight against impunity, and Japan strongly believes that as many countries as possible should join, including members of this Council.

 

          Let me now turn to Libya. I would like to emphasize that Japan continues to support the Presidency Council and the Government of National Accord as the legitimate authorities under the Libyan Political Agreement. The Agreement is the key instrument to move the process forward, and its framework should be upheld. Recent dialogues between the key interlocutors in Libya, such as the one between Prime Minister Serraj and General Haftar in Abu Dhabi and between the presidents of the House of Representatives and another one the State Council in Rome, are important developments.

 

          The ICC does not have its own enforcement authorities, therefore, its success depends heavily on the cooperation of States. Without their cooperation, the ICC cannot function effectively, and justice cannot be served. Against this background, we welcome the fact that the Office of the Prosecutor continues to enjoy good relations with the Libyan Prosecutor-General. We strongly hope this relationship will yield positive results in the near future. We commend the OTP for employing innovative methods to make progress despite the difficult security situation.

 

          Japan notes the recent unsealing of the arrest warrant for Al-Tuhamy Mohamed Khaled by the Pre-Trail Chamber. As a State Party, Japan stands ready to fulfil its obligations under the Rome Statute and hopes that this unsealing will facilitate enforcement by making all States Parties aware of the warrant. Regarding Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, it is regrettable that he is not yet in the ICC’s custody, despite various efforts by the Office of the Prosecutor. We encourage the Government of National Accord in Libya and the international community to cooperate fully with the ICC, pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) and resolution 2259 (2015).

 

          The escalation of violence and ongoing instability, especially in the southern region, are troubling, and are making it more difficult for the Prosecutor’s investigation to progress. Japan is also concerned by the deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in Libya. Human trafficking through and from Libya, including the smuggling of migrants, is particularly alarming. As Mr. Kobler mentioned at the briefing on 19 April, human security is at stake, and it is important that the Security Council remain fully engaged in this issue. Adequate measures should be taken to hold perpetrators accountable. There should be no impunity on this matter. We are closely following the ongoing work of the Office of the Prosecutor on a possible investigation and look forward to further updates.

 

          Let me conclude by reiterating Japan’s continuous support to the activities of the ICC. My delegation looks forward to tangible progress on today’s agenda.

 

I thank you, Mr. President.