ACCESSION NUMBER:220212
FILE ID:PO-406
DATE:03/19/92
TITLE:NEW SANCTIONS, AIR EMBARGO, SOUGHT AGAINST LIBYA (03/19/92)
TEXT:*92031906.POL
NEW SANCTIONS, AIR EMBARGO, SOUGHT AGAINST LIBYA
1
(Second U.N. resolution now being prepared)  (390)
By Russell Dybvik
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent
Washington -- A tough new resolution that would impose mandatory
sanctions against Libya, including an air embargo, is currently being
prepared at the United Nations Security Council, the State Department said
March 19.

Spokesman Margaret Tutwiler said the United States, Britain and France were
making public their submission of the draft resolution to the council in an
effort to warn their nationals to leave Libya immediately.

Tutwiler was unable to say when the Security Council might vote on the
proposed resolution, but she warned that it could go into effect quickly,
possibly trapping foreigners in Libya.

Libyan intelligence operatives have been formally charged with
responsibility in the terrorist bombings of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland
in December 1988 and UTA Flight 772 over Niger the following year.  A total
of 441 men, women and children from more than 30 countries were killed in
the two bombings.

Last November 27, the U.S., Britain and France, in a tripartite statement,
requested that Libya meet its responsibilities for international terrorism
by surrendering the suspects for trial, cooperating fully in the
investigation of the two airliner bombings, paying appropriate
compensation, and halting all support for terrorism.

On January 21, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 731
urging Libya to provide "a full and effective response" to the requests of
the three governments and deploring the lack of an effective Libya response
to that point.

Tutwiler declared at a news briefing that instead of complying with the
resolution, Libya "has attempted to delay and divert attention from the
fundamental issue."

As a result, she said, the three governments have decided to seek a second
resolution asking that the council impose mandatory sanctions on Libya,
including an air embargo, until Libya "complies with the provisions of
resolution 731."

"We cannot predict Libya's response to U.N. Security Council sanctions," the
spokesman said.  "The United States government strongly advises American
citizens who may be present in Libya to depart immediately."

American passports have been invalid for travel to Libya since 1981 but from
500 to 1,000 U.S. citizens, predominantly oil workers, are believed to be
in the country, Tutwiler said.

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