Below is the text of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos’ intervention at the Ministerial Conference on Stability and Development in Libya and North Africa, which took place today, 17 September, in Madrid.
In his intervention, Mr. Venizelos stressed the importance of support from the international community for the legitimate, elected government of Libya and the need for the adoption of a Constitution that guarantees rule of law and the fundamental rights of the Libyan people.
He also expressed support for the role of the UN and UN Special Representative Bernardino Leon, calling on those present to focus their attention on the humanitarian crisis that has arisen following the recent clashes, as well as on the increased migration flows from the coast of Libya towards Southern Europe and the shaping of a coherent and unified policy for confronting the situation.
E. VENIZELOS: I would like to start by thanking our Spanish colleague, Minister José Manuel García-Margallo for his very important initiative.
Greece reaffirms its strong commitment to preserving Libya’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity.
We welcome, once again, the last UN resolution, as well as the European Council conclusions on Libya, and we stress that national reconciliation is a precondition for security and development in Libya.
We encourage the elected House of Representatives to play their rightful role, as the sole legitimate representatives of the Libyan people, in leading efforts aimed at creating the dynamics for an inclusive political settlement that embraces all political actors and segments of Libyan society.
Of course the critical point is always the real and effective control of the territory. Legitimacy is something more complex than legality, more than the international support and the recognition. Legitimacy is linked with something material and tangible: the real control of the territory on the ground.
We need a constructive and inclusive dialogue for a generally accepted political programme.
The necessary instrument for the national reconciliation process is the adoption of a Constitution that enshrines the principles of rule of law, fundamental freedoms, human rights and, of course, respect of International Law and Treaties.
We support the leading role of the UN – of the UN Mission, but also the UN Special Representative Bernardino Leon – in guiding the efforts of the international community to stabilize Libya.
We must also focus attention on addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by the clashes, while at the same time tackling the illegal immigration problem.
We underline our great concern at the increasing illegal migratory flows towards Southern Europe, and we stress the need for cooperation among all regional stakeholders in this respect as well.
North African and European countries need a coherent and unified response to the phenomenon of illegal immigration, and should avoid fragmentation.
Finally, Greece expresses once again its willingness and readiness to support Libya in its reconstruction. Thank you very much.
mfa.gr
17/9/14
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