U.N. council split on sending Libya to int'l court

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - U.N. Security Council diplomats clashed on Saturday over a proposal to refer the deadly crackdown against anti-government demonstrators in Libya to the International Criminal Court, council envoys said.

Diplomats said there was broad support on the 15-nation council for a draft resolution of sanctions to punish long-time Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and others in the North African country's ruling elite for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians.

But council members were divided over whether to refer the issue to the war crimes court. It was unclear whether the call for an immediate ICC referral would be cut to get unanimous agreement on the draft's other punitive steps.

In an attempt to break the deadlock, Libya's U.N. delegation, which has denounced Gaddafi, sent a letter to the president of the Security Council, Brazilian U.N. Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, confirming its support for an immediate ICC referral.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-libya-un-idUSTRE71P26Z20110226

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Portugal - WTF?

Diplomats said ICC members Portugal and Brazil, as well non-members India and China, were resisting an immediate referral and preferred language that just leaves the door open to bringing Libya to the ICC.

A spokesman for the Portuguese U.N. mission said Lisbon could accept the current draft "as is."

I'm not quite sure how the second sentence can make sense with the first, but it's still worrying to see an EU member hesitate about the illegality of what has already been done.

[rpannier]

3. What kind of dealings does Portugal have with Libya

They could be hedging their bets.
I don't disagree with you, but melee-mouthed comments like the quotes you showed are usually a sign that someone is making sure they're on both sides.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. I wasn't aware of any particular link between the two

Italy and Libya, yes - because it's the old colonial power, and Berlusconi and Gaddafi are bosom buddies; but I don't know what Portugal may have been doing.

[rpannier]

7. Libya has also been a major holder in FIAT

Not sure about now.

I did find this from a Swiss site: Portugal gets between 11-18% of its oil from Libya.

I also found this from 2008.

Libya and Portugal have signed two new agreements to increase co-operation in the oil and gas industry and for the expansion of bilateral trade, according to the Libyan state news agency Jana.

The accords include a framework agreement to promote collaboration in oil and gas exploration, drilling, distribution, refining and other downstream activities.

link:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1489594/libya_portugal_to_increase_oil_and_gas_sector_cooperation/

[AndyTiedye]

9. We Can Hope that Gaddafi is Driving a FIAT

It will be sure to break down just as he is trying to escape from an angry mob.

Fix It Again Tony

[oberliner]

2. Sad, indeed

Kudos to the brave Libyan defector for his impassioned pleas.

[AndyTiedye]

5. They Are All On Board With the ICC Except China

and the Chinese are phoning home for further instructions.

[AndyTiedye]

6. Unanimous Now

Passed!

[pampango]

8. Security Council Calls for War Crimes Inquiry in Libya

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/world/africa/27nations.html

The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday night to impose sanctions on Libya’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, and his inner circle of advisers, and called for an international war crimes investigation into “widespread and systemic attacks” against Libyan citizens who have protested against his government over the last two weeks.

The vote, thought to be the first time the Security Council has voted unanimously to refer a member state to the International Criminal Court, came on the same day that President Obama said that Colonel Qaddafi had lost the legitimacy to rule and should step down.

Mr. Obama’s statement, which the White House said was made during a telephone call with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, was the strongest statement yet from any American official against Colonel Qaddafi.

The Security Council resolution also imposes an arms embargo against Libya, an international travel ban on 16 Libyan leaders and freezes the assets of Colonel Qaddafi and members of his family, including seven of his sons and a daughter. Also included in the sanctions were measures against defense and intelligence officials who are believed to have played a role in the violence against civilians in Libya.