Five things the U.N. Security Council can do to make Col. Qaddafi’s life more difficult

The U.N. Security Council last night passed a non-binding presidential statement condemning violence against demonstrators in Libya, and calling on Moammar Qaddafi‘s government to show restraint.  Carne Ross, a former U.N.-based British diplomat who helped negotiate resolutions aimed at containing Saddam Hussein and countering international terrorism, immediately dismissed the statment in an opinion piece in ...

By

The U.N. Security Council last night passed a non-binding presidential statement condemning violence against demonstrators in Libya, and calling on Moammar Qaddafi‘s government to show restraint.  Carne Ross, a former U.N.-based British diplomat who helped negotiate resolutions aimed at containing Saddam Hussein and countering international terrorism, immediately dismissed the statment in an opinion piece in the Guardian newspaper as the council’s "weakest form of expression." Ross, who heads Independent Diplomat, a New York-based non-profit diplomatic advisory group that counsels governments, proposed a list of five elements for a tough legally-binding resolution to help force Qaddafi from power.

The demand that all violence cease immediately, and that if lethal force continues to be used, the government will face consequences. At this point, such consequences do not need to be spelled out (and would unlikely be agreed) but imply sanctions, and, in extremis, force.

Immediate freezing of all assets and an explicit travel ban on members of the regime, until all violence is halted and has been fully investigated.

Since Libya is not a party to the International Criminal Court, the Council can and should refer Libya to the ICC for an immediate investigation into possible war crimes.

Demand that there be an immediate transition to a representative government, involving consulting civil society and all relevant political actors.

The decision should be taken under chapter VII of the UN Charter, recognising that events in Libya are an international threat to international peace and security (there are already refugees flowing out of Libya), and requiring all UN members to comply (this reference also implies the threat of military enforcement action).

Follow me on Twitter @columlynch

Colum Lynch was a staff writer at Foreign Policy between 2010 and 2022. Twitter: @columlynch

More from Foreign Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping give a toast during a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21.

Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?

The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.

Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.
Xi and Putin shake hands while carrying red folders.

Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World

It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.

Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.
Kurdish military officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, on Jan. 15.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing

The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.