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Mr. President, I would like to thank Ms. Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, for her latest report on Libya and for her briefing today.   Lithuania remains deeply concerned about ongoing conflict in Libya. Violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law continue across Libya. All parties in the conflict have to refrain from committing atrocities ant to take all necessary measures to prevent commission of such crimes.

We are seriously concerned about continuous threats to human rights defenders, media workers and journalists. Many human rights defenders and journalists fled the country, fell silent or operate underground because of continued attacks, threats and intimidation, abductions and arbitrary detentions. We encourage the Prosecutor and her office to further closely monitor this situation.

Furthermore, the barbaric crimes perpetrated by Da’esh and similar groups, including massive executions may constitute crimes under the Court’s jurisdiction and have to be monitor by the Prosecutor.

Mr. President,

We appreciate the Prosecutor’s efforts aimed at highlighting the plight of internally displaced persons and in particular the situation of the Tawerghans.  We welcome the meeting of Misrata/Tawergha Joint Committee in Tunis early September. The agreement to develop their return strategies and plans for reparations is a positive development. Ensuring the safe return and protection of the Tawerghans should be seen as an important element of national reconciliation.

Lithuania also welcomes and supports the ongoing dialogue on cooperation and burden-sharing between the Government of Libya and the Office of the Prosecutor. We would like to underline the importance of continuing such judicial cooperation in order to tackle impunity for atrocities, including through implementation of the memorandum of understanding on burden-sharing regarding the investigations and prosecutions in Libya.

Lithuania thanks the Prosecutor for the update on the cases against Saif Al-Islam Al-Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi. Libya should uphold its legal obligations and surrender Saif Al-Islam Al-Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court. With regard to the verdicts and sentences announced in Tripoli last July against Saif Al-Islam Al-Gaddafi and other Gaddafi officials, we call on Libya to ensure that these steps do not undermine its responsibility and obligation to cooperate with the Court.

Lithuania also notes that Prosecutor’s Office will continue to monitor and collect information on the progress of the proceedings against Abdullah Al-Senussi.  We are concerned about allegations of torture and inhuman treatment during interrogation session in the Al-Habda prison, where Al-Senussi is held. We encourage the Libyan authorities to take measures to put an end to degrading treatment and torture if such acts do occur, and to investigate and punish those responsible for such acts. 

Allow me to conclude by expressing our gratitude to Prosecutor Bensouda for her dedicated work and for the tireless efforts of the International Criminal Court to deal with enormously difficult cases. Let me underline that combatting impunity is an obligation of the entire international community. Therefore the United Nations has to ensure adequate resources for the investigation of situations referred to the Court by the Security Council.