UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's remarks in Tripoli, Libya, 11th October 2014:
Dear Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Mohammed Sha’ib
Dear Mr. Fathi Bashagha
H.E. Ms. Federica Mogherini, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Jonathan Powell, Special Envoy of the United Kingdom
Mr. Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, Ambassador of Italy to Libya and Special Envoy
Mr. Denis Gauer, Special Envoy of France
Mr. Joe Mangion, Special Envoy of Malta
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu alaykom, peace be upon you,
I am very honoured to be in Libya once again on my second visit after the revolution.
I am pleased to be joined in this visit by Her Excellency Ms. Federica Mogherini, Italian Foreign Minister and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy designate.
Her presence alongside the United Nations, together with four international envoys from the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Malta, is an illustration of the strong commitment of the international community’s support to Libya.
We have also received very strong support from the Arab League Special Envoy, Mr. Nasser al-Qidwa.
We are also thankful to Spain and the United States for the momentum created by the high-level meetings on Libya which they kindly hosted.
Libyans launched their revolution because they wanted freedom and democracy. They wanted human dignity, they wanted prosperity and a better life for their children.
They have a rich and blessed country and want, like peoples everywhere, to enjoy their wealth in a state that respects them, protects them and includes them.
This is what the revolution, admired by the whole international community, was all about.
But let me be clear: if violent confrontations do not cease immediately, if sustainable peace is not restored, prosperity and a better life will be a distant dream. This is what hangs in the balance today for the future of Libya.
