By Steve Painter
Libya has condemned United Nations sanctions, imposed by the Security Council against the small north African state last week, as a violation of international law.
A Libyan statement says the decision violates the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. That court is presently hearing evidence on the legality of US and British demands that Libya hand over two of its citizens for trial in Britain on charges over the 1988 Lockerbie airline disaster and that it hand over to France four citizens accused of a 1989 air bombing in Niger.
The Libyan statement also challenges the right of the UN Security Council to act under chapter seven of the UN charter, which deals with threats to international peace and security or aggression against other states.
Moroccan foreign minister Abdellatif Filali agrees, saying "We don't believe that the dispute between Libya and the three countries threatens international security". Morocco, the only Arab country represented on the Security Council, abstained on the vote.
The Libyan statement further points out that the passage of the Security Council resolution relied on the votes and influence of interested parties, namely the US, Britain and France, which sponsored the resolution. As well as Morocco, China, India, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde abstained on the resolution, which passed narrowly. Libya also questions the right of Russia to occupy the Security Council seat formerly allocated to the Soviet Union.
The Libyan statement reaffirms the country's desire for a solution "based on the United Nations Charter and principles of international law".
The Security Council resolution (no. 748/92) gives Libya until April 15 to hand over the two accused, and demands that Libya provide undefined "concrete" evidence of its willingness to "renounce terrorism". If Libya fails to comply, sanctions will consist of an embargo on arms and aircraft parts and repairs, a ban on international air links with Libya, withdrawal of military advisers and demands for reduction in Libyan diplomatic representation abroad.
Meanwhile, other Arab governments are angry about the Security Council action, which they have described as hasty and ill conceived. Arab League secretary-general Esmat Abdel-Meguid said he was disappointed that the Security Council had not waited for the International Court of Justice ruling.
Libya has threatened trade retaliation against governments enforcing the embargo. This would mainly affect oil supplies.