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UN Security Council Imposes No-Fly Zone Over Libya

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice: "This resolution also
strengthens enforcement of the arms embargo and bans all international flights
by Libyan-owned or -operated aircraft."

March 17, 2011

By Nikola
Krastev

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations Security Council has cleared the
way for international military intervention in the Libyan war.

The Security Council on March 17 approved a resolution to impose a no-fly
zone over Libya in a move aimed at limiting Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi's
ability to launch attacks on opposition forces.

The measure supports "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from
attacks by Qaddafi's forces. However, the resolution rules out sending foreign
ground troops into Libyan territory.

The measure passed on a vote of 10-0, with five Security Council members
abstaining, including Russia, China, Brazil, India and Germany.

Diplomats are quoted as saying the resolution appears to clear the way
for air strikes targeting Qaddafi's forces from a coalition led by Britain,
France and the United States.

The White House said U.S. President Barack Obama had called the British
and French leaders, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy, to discuss measures to
"ensure the enforcement" of the resolution.

The White House statement said the three leaders agreed that the Libyan
regime must immediately comply with the terms of the resolution and halt
violence against civilians.

Britain’s UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said during the council session
that Qaddafi had blatantly disregarded the previous UN resolution, adopted on
February 26, calling him to stop the assault on his own people.

"The central purpose of this resolution is clear: to end the violence, to
protect civilians, and to allow the people of Libya to determine their own
future free from the tyranny of the Qaddafi regime,” Grant said.

Some UN diplomats said privately that even though the passage and the
language of the resolution were unusually swift and strong by the UN standards,
it may be coming too late.

According to the latest reports, Qaddafi loyalists are preparing in the
coming hours to launch a major offensive against Benghazi, the rebels main
stronghold. But it is not clear if Qaddafi forces have the military capacity to
assault such a large city.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said the resolution empowers
the newly established Libyan Sanctions Committee to impose sanctions on those
who violate the arms embargo, including countries that provide Qaddafi with
mercenaries.

"This resolution also strengthens enforcement of the arms embargo and
bans all international flights by Libyan owned or operated aircraft,” Rice said.
“The resolution freezes the assets of seven more individuals and five entities
including key state owned Libyan companies."

The council also established a panel of experts to monitor and enhance
short and long-term implementation of the sanctions on Libya.

Five council members, including permanent members China and Russia,
expressed skepticism toward the provision for the use of force but in the end
decided to abstain instead of using their veto power.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow disagreed with the
"all necessary measures" provision because it puts a heavy responsibility on the
international community to refrain from excessive force:

"The responsibility for the inevitable humanitarian consequences of the
excessive use of outside [military] force in the Libyan situation would be
entirely the burden of those who would resort to such actions,” Churkin said.
“If this is to happen, then the victims will be not only the civilian population
of Libya but also the interests for the protection of peace and security in the
whole region of the North Africa and the Middle East."

In a statement, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said: "We are
still very skeptical about the option of a military intervention in Libya, also
contained in the resolution. We see considerable risks in this. Therefore we
cannot subscribe to this part of the resolution. German soldiers will not
participate in a military action in Libya."

From the first debate on the council it was clear that although members
disagreed on some points, Qaddafi enjoyed no support and all members were
convinced he must leave power.

Following the passage of the resolution, celebratory gunfire was heard in
the opposition-held Libyan city of Benghazi.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon welcomed the adoption of the resolution
and called it a statement "a historic decision."

He said he expects council members to act "immediately" on the resolution's
provisions.

with agency reports

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