House & Senate Foreign Relations Chairs Call for Sanctions Against Libya
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) both issued statements urging the use of sanctions against the Qadhafi regime in Libya in light of the government’s recent use of deadly force against citizen protestors.
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Kerry Says U.S. Should Re-impose Sanctions, Oil Companies Should Pull Out, Etc.
Senator Kerry stated that the Obama administration should consider re-imposing U.S. sanctions that were lifted during the Bush era, and all U.S. and international oil companies should immediately cease operations in Libya until violence against civilians ceases.
In addition, the United Nations Security Council should condemn the violence and explore temporary sanctions, including an arms embargo and protection for Libyan civilian centers. The United Nations should also immediately remove Libya from the Human Rights Commission, appoint a special rapporteur on human rights conditions in Libya, and authorize the distribution of emergency humanitarian supplies.
Ros-Lehtinen Also Urges Sanctions, Freezing Assets, Etc.
Representative Ros-Lehtinen generally agreed, stating, “As a first step, the U.S. and other free democratic nations should impose economic sanctions, including freezing assets of the regime and imposing a ban on travel for all senior regime officials and their families.
The UN must also finally end the disgrace of Libya’s inclusion as a member of the Human Rights Council, and send a clear signal that Qadhafi and his cadre will be held accountable for their serial human rights violations.”
House Committee on Foreign Affairs press release, dated 02/22/11, available here.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee press release, dated 02/22/11, available here.