UN Security Council in closed session
Source: Agencies |
March 22, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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The United Nations Security Council scheduled closed talks last night to discuss Libya's call for an emergency meeting of the UN's most powerful body to halt what it called "military aggression" by France and the United States.
The council scheduled consultations in response to a letter dated Saturday from Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kousa.
China's deputy UN ambassador Wang Min said "the council members will consult on how to deal with the request" for an emergency session.
Last Thursday, the Security Council authorized military action to protect civilians from attacks by Moammar Gadhafi's forces and imposed a no-fly zone over Libya.
Kousa's letter claimed that "an external conspiracy was targeting the (Libyan) Jamahiriya and its unity and territorial integrity." By authorizing military action to protect civilians and imposing a no-fly zone, he said, "the Security Council has paved the way for military aggression against Libyan territory."
The foreign minister accused France and the US of bombing "several civilian sites, thereby violating all international norms and instruments, most notably the Charter of the United Nations, which provides for non-intervention in the affairs of member states."
Diplomats said the council was also likely to discuss another letter Kousa sent last Thursday - just before the council vote. The March 17 letter defended Libya's actions and argued that the draft resolution was a violation of international law, human rights and the UN Charter.
"Libya's actions are a legitimate response against terrorism as it seeks to defend itself and to prevent terrorism from spreading in the Mediterranean region and al-Qaida from infiltrating Europe, in accordance with the counterterrorism instruments to which it is party," Kousa said.
Kousa claimed the draft resolution and the resolution adopted by the council on February 26 exceeded the council mandate and set "a dangerous precedent."
The earlier resolution imposed an arms embargo on Libya and a travel ban and asset freeze on Gadhafi and his family and government.
The foreign minister asked why the Security Council didn't similarly intervene in other conflict situations between a state and armed groups such as the Palestinians, Chechnya, the Lord's Resistance Army, Kashmir and Algeria.
The council scheduled consultations in response to a letter dated Saturday from Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kousa.
China's deputy UN ambassador Wang Min said "the council members will consult on how to deal with the request" for an emergency session.
Last Thursday, the Security Council authorized military action to protect civilians from attacks by Moammar Gadhafi's forces and imposed a no-fly zone over Libya.
Kousa's letter claimed that "an external conspiracy was targeting the (Libyan) Jamahiriya and its unity and territorial integrity." By authorizing military action to protect civilians and imposing a no-fly zone, he said, "the Security Council has paved the way for military aggression against Libyan territory."
The foreign minister accused France and the US of bombing "several civilian sites, thereby violating all international norms and instruments, most notably the Charter of the United Nations, which provides for non-intervention in the affairs of member states."
Diplomats said the council was also likely to discuss another letter Kousa sent last Thursday - just before the council vote. The March 17 letter defended Libya's actions and argued that the draft resolution was a violation of international law, human rights and the UN Charter.
"Libya's actions are a legitimate response against terrorism as it seeks to defend itself and to prevent terrorism from spreading in the Mediterranean region and al-Qaida from infiltrating Europe, in accordance with the counterterrorism instruments to which it is party," Kousa said.
Kousa claimed the draft resolution and the resolution adopted by the council on February 26 exceeded the council mandate and set "a dangerous precedent."
The earlier resolution imposed an arms embargo on Libya and a travel ban and asset freeze on Gadhafi and his family and government.
The foreign minister asked why the Security Council didn't similarly intervene in other conflict situations between a state and armed groups such as the Palestinians, Chechnya, the Lord's Resistance Army, Kashmir and Algeria.
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