Senate Adopts Libya Resolution

Senators have adopted a resolution (S. Res. 85) dealing with the situation in Libya by unanimous consent. According to a press release from the office of Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), it condemns “the recent brutality and aggression by Muammar Qadhafi in Libya” and calls “for new steps against his regime.”

Key components noted in the release:

• applauds the courage of the Libyan people in standing up against the brutal dictatorship of Muammar Gadhafi and for demanding democratic reforms, transparent governance, and respect for basic human and civil rights;
• strongly condemns the gross and systematic violations of human rights in Libya, including violent attacks on protesters demanding democratic reforms;
• calls on Muammar Gadhafi to desist from further violence,  recognize the Libyan people’s demand for democratic change, resign his position and permit a peaceful transition to democracy governed by respect for human and civil rights and the right of the people to choose their government in free and fair elections;
• welcomes the  unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council on resolution 1970 referring the situation  in Libya to the International Criminal Court; imposing an arms embargo on the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; freezing the assets of Gadhafi and family members; and banning international travel by Gadhafi, members of his family, and senior advisors;
• urges the United Nations Security Council to take such further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Libyan territory;
• welcomes the attendance of Secretary of State Clinton at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva and 1) urges the Council’s assumption of a country mandate for Libya that employs a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Libya and 2) urges the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to advocate for improving United Nations Human Rights Council membership criteria at the next United Nations General Assembly in New York City to exclude gross and systematic violators of human rights.
• Welcomes the outreach that has begun by the United States government to Libyan opposition figures and supports an orderly, irreversible and transition to a legitimate democratic government in Libya.

Full text linked here.

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