Security Council considers situation in southern Mediterranean, adjourns in March without taking action.

Security Council considers situation in southern Mediterranean, adjourns in March without taking action

The Security Council met four times in March to discuss the situation between the United States and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in the southern Mediterranean.

Bulgaria and the USSR on 31 March submitted a draft resolution to the Council by which it would express deep concern regarding "the threat to peace and security in the southern Mediterranean' that had arisen as a result of the "attack by United States armed forces against the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya'. The Council also would firmly condemn "the act of armed aggression' against Libya as a "blatant violation' of the Charter and the norms of international law.

Under that text (S/17954), on which no action was taken by 31 March, the Council would also demand an immediate halt to "any hostile actions' against Libya's territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence', and demand that the United States immediately withdraw its armed forces from the area. The Council would consider that Libya was entitled to appropriate compensation for loss of life and damage to property resulting from the "act of aggression'.

Council President Ole Bierring (Denmark) said the next Council meeting on the subject would take place in consultation with the Council President for the month of April, Claude de Kemoularia of France.

The Council began its consideration of the situation on 26 March, at the individual requests of Malta, the USSR and Iraq, in its capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group.

Malta asked that the Council discuss "the grave situation which has arisen in the Central Mediterranean' and consider appropriate action "to reduce tension and restore peace and stability in the region'. The USSR request called for consideration of "the question entitled the situation in the southern Mediterranean''. The Arab Group request referred to "the question of the United States aggression against the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya'.

On 24 March, Libya, in a letter to the Secretary-General (A/41/231), cited "provocative military manoeuvres conducted by the United States off the Libyan coast'. The resumption of those manoeuvres and "the threat of aggression' against Libya's sovereignty confirmed the "hostile intentions' of the United States towards Libya, the letter stated. That "dangerous undertaking' jeopardized "peace in the region, if not throughout the world', Libya said.

Libya said it felt obliged to "prepare to apply the provisions of Article 51 of the Charter', with "full responsibility in this matter resting on the United States'. (Article 51 asserts the right of self-defence for every Member State.)

Libya also said that because of the United States veto, the Security Council was no longer able to assume its responsibilities or to play its role in maintaining international peace and security. It therefore had "no other...