Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:44 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on sanctions against Libya.
Written Answers. - Sanctions Against Libya.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:94 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's position on UN sanctions against Libya, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 94 together.
On 31 March, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 748 which imposes the following sanctions on Libya, with effect from 15 April: a ban on flights to or from Libya, except in cases of significant humanitarian need, as well as a ban on the supply of aircraft materials; a ban on arms sales, and a significant reduction in the number of Libyan diplomats in missions abroad.
The resolution also provides that the Libyan Government must commit itself definitively to cease all forms of terrorist action and all assistance to terrorists groups, and that it must promptly, by concrete actions, demonstrate its renunciation of terrorism. Furthermore, the resolution provides that all states are to deny entry to or expel Libyan nationals who have been denied entry to, or expelled from other states because of their involvement in terrorist activities.
The sanctions follow Libya's refusal to comply with the Security Council's earlier resolution on this question, adopted on 21 January. That Resolution urged the Libyan Government to provide a full and effective response to the requests from France, Britain and the USA to cooperate fully in establishing responsibility for the destruction of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988 and UTA flight 772 over Africa in 1989. A total of 441 innocent lives were lost in these two appalling outrages. Three of the Pan Am victims were Irish citizens.
Under Article 25 of the UN Charter member states of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the Charter. Ireland will, therefore, implement these sanctions with effect from 15 April.