The international community is stepping up pressure on the Gaddafi government in Libya, as reports of violence continue to come out of Tripoli and Western parts of the country.
The United Nations General Assembly today agreed to suspend Libya from its seat on the Human Rights Council, as all members of international rights body, including Libya’s representatives, had requested it to do last week in Geneva.
Today’s decision was accepted by consensus, but Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations warned the General Assembly against the possibility of an American led military intervention in Libya.
“Venezuela calls for the rejection of warmongering mobilization of the US Air Force and Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.” said Ambassador Jorge Valero “We deplore the double standards applied to Human rights by imperialist countries. The death of one single human being in Libya is painful. Also painful are the death of thousands of human beings suffering from imperialist military invasions.”
US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice fired back at Valero’s criticism, saying her country utterly rejected the “ugly distortion” by the Venezuelan Ambassador.
“At a time when this assembly is acting in unison in support of the Libyan people, it’s shameful that one member state, whose own reprehensible record speaks for itself, would manipulate this occasion to spread lies, foster fear and sow hate.” Rice told the Assembly.
Speaking before the General Assembly, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon outlined the most recent reports of violence through the country and praised the Human Rights Council’s decision to open an international inquiry into the alleged abuses.
On Saturday, all 15 members of the Security Council agreed to a resolution imposing financial sanctions and travel bans on the Gaddafi regime. The council also requested the International Criminal Court investigate reported incidents of violence that have taken place through out the country since February 15th.
This is the second time the Security Council has referred a case to the ICC. In 2005, the Council passed a resolution bringing the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan to the attention of the court. Both China and the US, permanent Security Council members not party to the Rome statute, abstained from voting. At the time, American officials at the UN said referral to the ICC was the main reason for abstaining.
Beijing and Washington’s representatives at the Council voted in favor of an ICC referral on Saturday, but the US reportedly insisted on the inclusion of a clause that would protect government officials and nationals of non ICC member states from international prosecution “related to operations in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya established or authorized by the Council”.
Some initial reports voiced concern that the exemption could protect foreign mercenaries hired by the Gaddafi regime, but in a press conference this morning, Christian Wenaweser, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court, told reporters the resolution’s language was meant to exclude foreign mercenaries responsible for attacks on Libyan protesters and opposition groups.
The final decision whether or not pursue a greater investigation will be up to head ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, who is expected to make an announcement quickly once he is formally notified by the Security Council. Wenaweser said the head ICC prosecutor would also be coordinating his decision to investigate with the Human Rights Council’s inquiry.
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 6:36PM
Obama Holds Out Carrot And Stick To Iran
The US and its allies have not closed the door on a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue but Tehran will need to display a clear and credible commitment to the development of nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, President Obama told the UN General Assembly today in New York.
” As part of our effort on non-proliferation, I offered the Islamic republic of Iran an extended hand last year and underscored that it has both rights and responsibilities as a member of the International community. I also said , in this hall, that Iran must be held accountable if it failed to meet those responsibilities. That is what we have done.” said Obama
In his second address in front of the world body since taking office, Obama said his main focus over the past two years had been to rescue the American economy from a “potential catastrophe” with the help of its international partners. “America has joined with nations around the world to spur growth and the renewed demand that could restart job creation. We are reforming our system of global finance, beginning with Wall Street reform here at home so that a crisis like this never happens again. And we made the G-20 the focal point of international cooperation because in a world where prosperity is more diffuse we must broaden our circle of cooperation to include emerging economies. “
A substantial portion of Obama’s speech focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the importance of the international communities support of the most recent talks between Israelis and Palestinian leaders. The President said he understands the skepticism surrounding these new rounds of negotiation and is aware of the challenges ahead but believes their is no other solution. “Rejectionists on both sides will try to disrupt the process with bitter words, bombs and gunfire” said President Obama “If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state, Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are committed to coexistence”
The President also spoke about the change in policies towards the Iraq and Afghan wars, saying that the recent draw down of troops in Iraq and the scheduled draw down in Afghanistan next July were part of a new approach that would increasingly focus on local capacity building and partnerships.”We are moving towards a more targeted approach, one that strengthens our partners and dismantles terrorist networks without deploying large American armies.”