France, Germany Call for EU Sanctions on Libya

World | February 23, 2011, Wednesday // 17:42|  views

"The continuing brutal and bloody repression against the Libyan civilian population is revolting," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday. Photo by EPA/BGNES

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called on the European Union to quickly adopt sanctions against Libya in the wake of violent clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters, which left at least 300 dead.

"The continuing brutal and bloody repression against the Libyan civilian population is revolting," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday. "The international community cannot remain a spectator to these massive violations of human rights."

Sarkozy asked his Foreign Minister Michele-Alliot Marie to propose that EU member states quickly approve concrete sanctions against those responsible for the violence, which could include prohibiting their entry to the EU and the tracking of financial transactions, the president said in a statement.

It added that Sarkozy wants to examine the possibility of suspending economic, commercial and financial relations with Libya.

Sarkozy's Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurent Wauquiez underlined that France is taking a leading role on proposing sanctions against Libya, and indicated it is looking to move quickly.

"The President has also expressed his wish for France to suspend all trade, economic and financial

Sakozy's calls echoed in Germany, whose foreign minister said sanctions would be "inevitable" if the Libyan regime continues to put down protests violently.

"There is a great deal of agreement with many partners in the European Union here," Guido Westerwelle said. "I have no doubt that ... if this violence continues, everyone in Europe will know that this cannot go unanswered."

"I cannot imagine that, given these terrible pictures, these terrible events in our immediate neighborhood, any other policy is possible in Europe," he added.

The European Union president, Herman Van Rompuy, said during a visit to Prague that Libya has committed "horrible crimes that are unacceptable and must not remain without consequences."

An EU draft resolution said the bloc "strongly condemns the recent extremely grave human rights violations committed in Libya, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of peaceful demonstrators, which if widespread and systematic, may amount to crimes against humanity."

The UN Security Council condemned on Wednesday the Libyan authorities for using force against protesters, calling for those responsible to be held to account.

In a much-awaited and allegedly belated statement, the UN Security Council said it "condemned the violence and use of force against civilians, deplored the repression against peaceful demonstrators and expressed deep regret at the deaths of hundreds of civilians" in Libya.

Analyst have criticized the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and other governments for being silent and passive for too long, saying they can and should help protect those protesters from Gaddafi's guns and encourage a democratic result.

They have recommended that the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and other governments should quickly replace the hackneyed words of condemnation with resolute steps – finger Gaddafi as the perpetrator of atrocities, for which he will be held responsible, stop bowing to him, stop fearing that their actions will anger him and make him behave worse and present a unified front.

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Tags: French, Libyan, United States, United Nations, UN Security Council, Libya, Foreign Minister, Germany, France, Westerwelle, Guido, Herman van Rompuy, president, European Union, Sarkozy, Nicolas, president, EU

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