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High-level Meeting on Libya
In recognition of Canada’s role in Libya, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been invited to participate in a High-level Meeting on Libya being held on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 20, 2011.
Participants at the meeting will discuss a range of topics, including the development of democratic institutions in Libya, the rebuilding of the country’s damaged infrastructure and humanitarian assistance for its people.
Since the onset of the crisis in February, Canada has taken decisive diplomatic, humanitarian and military action to protect the people of Libya and to encourage a transition to a representative democracy. These actions include:
Recent important milestones:
- On August 25, 2011, Canada recognized the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the Libyan government. The Government of Canada has also accredited Abubaker Karmos as an NTC representative to Canada.
- Canada re-established its diplomatic presence in Tripoli and reopened its embassy in a temporary location on September 13. Work is also commencing on the refurbishing and securing of our embassy in Tripoli.
- On September 16, 2011, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2009, which creates the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to assist and support Libyan national efforts in area such as public safety, promoting national reconciliation, protecting human rights and economic recovery. Resolution 2009 also begins to lift sanctions imposed on Libya through previous UNSC resolutions.
Humanitarian Assistance ($10.6 million):
- On March 2, 2011, Prime Minister Harper announced a commitment of up to $5 million to help meet the most urgent needs of those affected by the crisis in Libya. This includes access to food, water, sanitation, supplies (tents, blankets, mattresses), counselling, emergency medical services, as well as the repatriation of people displaced by the crisis.
- On March 25, 2011, further contributions of approximately $3 million were announced by the Prime Minister to help repatriate those displaced into neighbouring countries.
- On June 14, 2011 Minister Oda announced additional assistance in the amount of $2 million for assistance including food and non-food items, water, sanitation and primary health care services, as well as for the assistance of women and girls in Libya who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing gender-based violence.
- The Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) has also provided over $600,000 for the purchase of essential security equipment to enhance the safety of UN humanitarian personnel.
Economic Sanctions:
In February and March 2011, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolutions 1970 and 1973, which sent a very clear message to the Gaddafi Regime: the murder of its own citizens and the gross violations of the population's human rights would not be tolerated by the international community and would carry serious consequences.
Canada implemented the following binding decisions contained in the resolutions:
- An arms embargo requiring all states to prevent the sale or supply of arms into Libya, or the export of arms from Libya;
- A travel ban on Muammar Gaddafi and 15 individuals closely associated with him; and
- An asset freeze against Muammar Gaddafi, members of his family and five Libyan state entities.
In addition, since Resolution 1970 did not include measures against the Libyan Government itself or its institutions and agencies, Canada imposed sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) that went beyond those imposed by the United Nations Security Council.
After six months of uprising, the Gaddafi regime no longer holds power. At a meeting in Paris in early September, world leaders met with representatives of Libya’s NTC to discuss how best to assist the country. A total of $6 billion of assets previously frozen under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 were released and can now be claimed by the NTC.
Canada has repealed the unilateral economic sanctions it imposed on Libya in February of this year. Concretely, it means that Canadian individuals and entities are no longer restricted from dealings with the Libyan government, its institutions and agencies under the SEMA.
On September 13, 2011, Canada announced it would unfreeze $2.2 billion worth of Libyan assets which will be used to help the Libyan people get back on their feet. It also announced the reopening of its embassy in Libya.
Military Action:
The Canadian Armed Forces have played a leading role in preventing attacks against Libyan civilians. Launched on March 22, 2011, Operation MOBILE is the Canadian Armed Forces’ participation in Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, the NATO-led effort to impose on Libya the arms embargo and no-fly zone authorized in UN Security Council Resolution 1973 of 17 March 2011.
Among its contributions to the mission, the Canadian Armed Forces have:
- Engaged in over 800 offensive counter-air sorties, and approximately 350 air-to-air refuelling sorties;
- Participated in approximately 150 maritime patrol aircraft sorties;
- Flown in a total of 1312 sorties;
- Patrolled inside territorial waters and ensured the continued flow of humanitarian assistance to help the people of Libya; and
- Provided support to the command element of the mission, including providing the overall NATO mission commander, Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard.
