Lifting of UN sanctions against Libya

Today the government has decided to repeal the Regulations of 10 April 1992 No. 213 relating to sanctions against Libya. This is in accordance with resolution 1506, which was adopted by the Security Council on 12 September and which lifted these sanctions. The resolution was adopted pursuant to Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and is binding on all UN member states under international law.

The reason for this decision is that Libya is now considered to have met the UN’s requirement that it should take responsibility for the actions of Libyan officials in connection with the plane accident over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988 and the bomb attack on a French aircraft, UTA 772, over Niger in 1989, and that it should pay substantial compensation, renounce terrorism and commit itself to co-operating with any further requests for information in connection with the investigation.

The sanctions, which were introduced in accordance with resolutions 748 (1992) and 883 (1993), have consisted of an economic boycott, a general air blockade and a prohibition against supplying any arms or other military equipment and specified equipment that can be used in the production, storage or transport of crude oil or natural gas.

The sanctions against Libya have been temporarily lifted since April 1999 because Libya has been co-operating in the criminal prosecutions in connection with the Lockerbie accident and because the requirements imposed by the French authorities in connection with the bomb attack on the UTA 772 are regarded as having been met.

The Security Council has now decided that Libya has complied with the other conditions imposed by the UN for a permanent lifting of the sanctions.