Pretoria – South Africa and the other 14 members of the United Nations Security Council have unanimously adopted Resolution 2016 of 2011, which lifts the no-fly zone imposed by Resolution 1973 in Libya.
Resolution 2016 effectively ends NATO’s role as from one minute before midnight on 31 October 2011.
The move brings an end to months of international military action in that country.
Speaking in New York after the adoption of the resolution, South Africa’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Baso Sangqu, said South Africa had taken note of the events of the last few weeks, including the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Gaddafi was killed last week near his hometown of Sirte.
“As President Jacob Zuma has stated, South Africa would have preferred Gaddafi to be captured and given an opportunity to stand trial in a court of law to answer for his actions,” said Sangqu, adding that South Africa hoped the latest developments would lead to an end of hostilities and the restoration of peace.
“It is our view that a lasting and sustainable peace is only possible through an all-inclusive political process, culminating in the first-ever democratic elections in accordance with the roadmap announced by the National Transitional Council (NTC).”
South Africa has urged the NTC to start the process of building national unity and reconciliation as well as the disarmament of all combatants and their reintegration into society.
“The South African government remains committed to work together with the African Union, United Nations, League of Arab States and Organisation of the Islamic Conference to ensure coordinated support to the NTC and Libyan people in general in their endeavours to reconstruct their country and to bring about democratic, political and socio-economic changes,” said Sangqu. – BuaNews
