South Africa welcomes and supports the UN Security Council's resolution on no fly zone in Libya, March 18 2011
South Africa is deeply concerned about the deteriorating political and humanitarian situation in Libya; which is fast becoming a full blown civil war. It is our hope that this situation will be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with the will of the Libyan people.
A holistic political solution must be found that would respect democracy; political reform; justice; human rights as well as the socio - economic development needs of the people of Libya; in order to ensure long - term peace and stability. This solution must also preserve the unity; sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Libya.
It is in this context that South Africa commends the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council to dispatch an Ad - Hoc High Level Committee to Libya to intensify efforts towards finding a lasting political solution to the crisis in Libya; in the best interests of its people. We urge this Committee; of which South Africa is a member; to work closely with the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to Libya; and the League of Arab States in coordinating the search for peaceful political solution in this regard.
In adopting Resolution 1970; the Security Council had hoped that the Libyan authorities would act responsibly and stop committing more acts of violence against their own people. The authorities have defied this Resolution and continued to kill and displace thousands of civilians whilst continuing to violate their human rights.
We believe that the United Nations and the Security Council could not be silent nor be seen to be doing nothing in the face of such grave acts of violence committed against innocent civilians.