General Assembly condemns April 1986 attack against Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

UN Chronicle, Feb, 1987

Acting on the agenda item concerning an Organization of African Unity Declaration on the April 1986 United States military attack on Libya, the General Assembly condemned that action, which it said "constitutes a violation of the United Nations Charter and of international law".

In adopting resolution 41/38 on 20 November, the Assembly also called on the United States to "refrain from the use or threat of the use of force in the settlement of disputes and differences" with Libya and to "resort to peaceful means in accordance with the Charter". The vote was 79 in favour to 28 against, with 33 abstentions.

Under the text, all States were called on to refrain from extending any aid or facilities for perpetrating acts of aggression against Libya. That nation's right to compensation for the material and human losses inflicted on it was also affirmed.

The Security Council was to remain seized of the matter, the Assembly noting that the Council had been prevented from discharging its responsibilities due to the negative vote of certain permanent members". Grave concern was expressed that the aerial and naval attack in question constituted a serious threat to peace and security in the Mediterranean.

Concern was also expressed "at the series of disinformation campaigns" carried out against Libya, at the threats and aggressive provocations against Libya, and the imposition of comprehensive cultural and economic sanctions, including the freezing of Libyan assets and properties.

The Assembly also reaffirmed "the inalienable right of all peoples to determine their own form of government and to choose their political, social and economic system without any interference, subversion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever."

Libya on 21 August asked the Assembly to place on its agenda an item entitled "Declaration of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity on the aerial and naval military attack against the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya by the present United States Administration in April 1986".

In debating the item on 19 and 20 November, Ali A. Treiki (Libya) told the plenary that it, in adopting an "independent non-aligned policy on international issues", had eliminated American military bases on its soil and had exercised full sovereign rights over its natural resources through the nationalization of foreign oil companies and the ending of American monopolies. That policy, it said, "has not been to the liking" of the United States, which would like Libya to-be "one of" the pliant tools subjected to its hegemony and control". The United States also wanted to keep Libya's oil under its control, it stated. Disinformation campaigns and other aggressive acts and provocations by the United States were aimed at causing destabilization "as a prelude to the overthrow of the popular national Government in the Jamahiriya".

United States armed aggression had threatened the region's peace and security and reflected a policy of terrorism against small peoples, Libya said. The United States had raised very transparent pretexts, such as the support of terrorism", Libya said, but had failed to submit any material proof of what it called Libyan terrorism. Libya rejected terrorism and was ready to accept an international investigation by the Security Council, if "the other party accepts that procedure".

Larry Pressler (United States) told the Assembly that Libya was trying to portray itself as an innocent victim and to portray the United States as having engaged in unprovoked and unjustified actions. Libya, it said, had a "sordid record" of terrorism and violence, and under Qaddafi was conducting a world-wide terrorist campaign. The United States had made verbal warnings and diplomatic efforts through the United Nations to dissuade Libya from its campaign of terrorism. "We finally acted in self-defence", with United States President Reagan authorizing actions against "centres of terrorist planning in Libya in response to repeated terrorist attacks against United States persons and property mounted under Libyan auspices". The strikes were limited to terrorist facilities and military assets supporting Qaddafi attacks against the United States, and were targeted to minimize casualties among the Libyan people.

The United States response was proportionate and in accord with international law. It had acted to reduce Libya's ability to continue to commit "unlawful aggression through terrorist force against the United States and its nationals". It was not "blind retaliation or the seeking of retribution". it averred. The American people and all who had been victim of or feared Libyan terrorism would be watching what the United Nations did and said "on this hypocritical complaint from a regime that deserves the contempt of the international community".