United Nations Security Council Resolution 2298 – The situation in Libya

Resolution 2298 (2016)

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 1970 (2011) and all its subsequent resolutions on Libya, and support for the Government of National Accord,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya,

Recalling the objective of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (the “Chemical Weapons Convention”) to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons,

Recalling Libya’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2004, and the subsequent decisions of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council concerning the destruction of Libya’s declared chemical weapons, including precursors and notes the need for continued progress in this regard to ensure the complete destruction of Libya’s chemical weapons,

Welcoming the decision EC-M-52/DEC.1 of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of 20 July on the “Destruction of Libya’s Remaining Chemical Weapons”,

Noting a letter dated 16 July from the Libyan National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention to the OPCW Director-General informing the Secretariat of the movement of all of its remaining chemical weapons to a storage site in the north of the country, requesting the assistance and support of the Secretariat and States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in ensuring the destruction of Libya’s remaining category 2 chemical weapons on an expedited basis, and expressing the intent of Libya to cooperate fully with the OPCW,

Recalling the joint announcement, dated 4 February 2014, by Libya and OPCW on the complete destruction of Libya’s category 1 chemical weapons,

Determining that the potential for acquisition by non-State actors of chemical weapons in Libya represents a threat to international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Endorses the decision EC-M-52/DEC.1 of the Executive Council of the OPCW on 20 July requesting the Director-General to assist Libya in developing a modified plan of destruction of Libya’s chemical weapons, that will be considered by the Executive Council, along with recommendations from the Director-General for additional measures needed to ensure the expeditious transport, storage and destruction of Libya’s chemical weapons and expressing the Executive Council’s determination to ensure the destruction of Libya’s chemical weapons stockpile in a safe and expeditious manner;

2. Encourages Member States to assist the Government of National Accord in providing support, including personnel, technical expertise, information, equipment, and financial and other resources and assistance, in coordination with the Director-General of the OPCW, to enable the OPCW to implement the elimination of Libya’s category 2 chemical weapons safely and in the soonest practicable timescale;

3. Decides to authorize Member States to acquire, control, transport, transfer and destroy chemical weapons identified by the Director-General of the OPCW, consistent with the objective of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to ensure the elimination of Libya’s chemical weapons stockpile in the soonest and safest manner, with appropriate consultations with the Government of National Accord;

4. Requests the Director-General of the OPCW, through the Secretary-General, to report to the Security Council, on activities related to the implementation of OPCW Executive Council Decision EC-M-52/DEC.1 of this resolution on a regular basis until the destruction of the remaining chemical weapons is complete and verified;

5. Reminds Member States of their obligation under Resolution 1540 (2004) that all States shall take and enforce effective measures to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, and reaffirms its decision that Member States shall inform the Security Council immediately of any violation of resolution 1540 including acquisition by non-State actors of chemical weapons, their means of delivery and related materials;

6. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 7743rd meeting, on 22 July 2016.