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UN's Libya Envoy Leon Calls for Blockade, Then "Clarifies," UNspun

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 7, updated -- Amid contentious discussions of imposing a naval blockade on Libya, the UN's envoy to the country Bernardino Leon has been quoted, and then "clarified" by his UNSMIL mission.

  AP reported on March 7 that "in an interview published Saturday with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Bernardino Leon said he not only favors a blockade, but that it is necessary and the only thing that can be done concretely at this time. 'There's a measure that the European Union can take right away: Come out in force to guard the seas off Libya. Italy can't do it alone. It needs help,' Leon was quoted as saying. Leon said he was certain that such a mission would receive the blessing of the UN Security Council."

  This is not usually how a UN envoy is supposed to talk; there is some history to the way Leon was put into the roll (and Tarek Mitri of Lebanon pushed out), here.

   Quickly on March 7 the UNSMIL mission issued a "clarification" that

"In an interview published on Saturday 07 March 2015, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Bernardino Leon was quoted as saying in response to a question that he favors measures to be applied off Libyan shores.

"Mr. Leon actually said these measures could be part of a larger system that includes building the capacity of Libyan forces and securing the borders of Libya. While he favors these measures as interim action, he said that it will not be enough, and that there are attempts to reinforce the capacities of the Libyans through the political process to counter not only illegal migration, but also terrorism and weapons trafficking through land border control, training, etc.

"Since this is a problem affecting Europe and the international community, Leon thinks EU and International support should be appropriate."

 We publish the "clarification" in full. But is it clear?

  The idea of a naval blockade has been pushed, including by leaking to and using Reuters, at the UN for some time. This is a pattern. This too: the head of the UN Correspondents Association (now, UN Censorship Alliance) has twice used "his" set-aside first question to push for the naval blockade. We'll have more on this.

  Hours later on March 7, UNSMIL said the talks in Morocco will resume on March 11. We'll be covering them.

  Back on March 4 when Libya's long-time representative to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi spoke in the Security Council after UN envoy Bernardino Leon, he made a point of criticizing “one Permanent member” of the Council for saying that ISIL in Libya is only being fought by Ansar al Sharia, and by implication not by the Tobruk-based government Dabbashi now represents.

   After this open meeting ended, Dabbashi came to the area beside the UNTV stakeout and spoke to the press, specifying that he had been referring to the United Kingdom. (He later added he personally has no problem with UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant.) But he said what he said. Inner City Press video here.

   Inner City Press has asked the UK Mission to the UN for its response and has been pointed to a transcript of  Deputy Permanent Representative Peter Wilson answering this seemingly mis-phrased question:

"the Libyan Ambassador criticized the UK and said that you support Islamic militias and Ansar al sharia - do you want to split Libya?"

DPR Peter Wilson: "No. The clear thing we support the UN lead process to lead to a government of national unity in Libya. Bernadino Leon was very clear. We very strongly support this. This is a Libyan process, for Libyans to come to an agreement themselves about how they wish to govern their country together, and that will enable them to take the fight to ISIL."

  Meanwhile, not all member or even Permanent members believe things must wait for the formation of a unity government. Russia's Vitaly Churkin, also to the side of the UNTV stakeout, said Russia supports the Egyptian and now Jordanian proposal with regard to the arms embargo on the Tobruk government - but add that due to concerns about where the weapons might go, some system of control would be needed but has yet to be established.

  One wanted to ask March's Security Council president Francois Delattre of France about this view and mechanism when he came to the UNTV stakeout.

But he took three questions, handpicked by his Mission -- France 24, Agence France Presse and Voice of America -- declining to answer the Press' question even on Mali (on which he delivered Elements to the Press but took no questions, spokesperson's follow-up added here.)  Watch this site.

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