[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 317 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 317

 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the liberation of Libya 
             from the dictatorship led by Muammar Qaddafi.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 8, 2011

 Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Lieberman) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the liberation of Libya 
             from the dictatorship led by Muammar Qaddafi.

Whereas peaceful demonstrations, which began in Libya on February 17, 2011, and 
        were inspired by similar movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere in 
        the Middle East, quickly spread to cities throughout Libya and were met 
        with military force by the government of Muammar Qaddafi, including the 
        use of air power and foreign mercenaries;
Whereas Qaddafi stated that he would show ``no mercy'' to his opponents in 
        Benghazi, and that his forces would go ``door-to-door'' to find and kill 
        dissidents;
Whereas in response to Qaddafi's assault on civilians in Libya, a ``no-fly 
        zone'' in Libya was called for by--

    (1) the Gulf Cooperation Council on March 7, 2011;

    (2) the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference 
on March 8, 2011; and

    (3) the Arab League on March 12, 2011;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council passed--

    (1) Resolution 1970 on February 26, 2011, which mandated international 
economic sanctions and an arms embargo; and

    (2) Resolution 1973 on March 17, 2011, which authorized United Nations 
member states to take ``all necessary measures'' to protect civilians in 
Libya and to implement a ``no-fly zone'';

Whereas the United States Armed Forces, in cooperation with coalition partners, 
        launched Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya on March 19, 2011, to protect 
        civilians in Libya from immediate danger and enforce an arms embargo and 
        a ``no-fly zone'', which was transferred on March 31, 2011 to NATO 
        command, with the mission continuing as Operation Unified Protector;
Whereas the National Transitional Council of Libya--

    (1) formally convened in Benghazi on March 5, 2011 for the first time 
in support of the February 17 Revolution;

    (2) formed an executive body on March 23, 2011; and

    (3) was recognized by the United States as the ``legitimate governing 
authority for Libya'' on July 15, 2011;

Whereas the military offensive of forces loyal to the National Transitional 
        Council against Qaddafi loyalists accelerated in June and July, and the 
        Libyan capital, Tripoli, was declared liberated in August 2011;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2009 on September 
        16, 2011, creating the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) 
        to support Libyan national efforts to secure the country's political and 
        economic transition;
Whereas, on October 23, 2011, the National Transitional Council issued an 
        historic Declaration of Liberation for Libya;
Whereas, on October 27, 2011, the United Nations Security Council unanimously 
        passed Resolution 2016, which ended the mandate established by United 
        Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 for international military 
        intervention to protect Libyan citizens on October 31, 2011; and
Whereas, on October 28, 2011, NATO announced that Operation Unified Protector 
        would end on October 31, 2011: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the people of Libya for their tremendous 
        courage and extraordinary resilience in liberating themselves 
        from the despotic regime of Muammar Qaddafi;
            (2) commends the men and women of the United States Armed 
        Forces and their coalition partners who engaged in military 
        operations to protect the people of Libya for their 
        extraordinary bravery and professionalism;
            (3) supports the legitimate aspirations of the people of 
        Libya to form a democratic government that respects universal 
        human rights and freedoms, and allows Libyans to build their 
        lives free from fear;
            (4) welcomes the October 23, 2011 Libyan Declaration of 
        Liberation by the National Transitional Council;
            (5) affirms the national interest of the United States in a 
        successful and irreversible transition to democracy in Libya, 
        including--
                    (A) respect for the rule of law;
                    (B) independent media;
                    (C) a vibrant civil society; and
                    (D) universal rights and freedoms, including equal 
                rights for all citizens, freedom of speech, and human 
                rights; and
            (6) urges the swift establishment of a new interim 
        transitional authority in Libya that is broadly inclusive and 
        representative of the Libyan people and will--
                    (A) prepare for elections that are free, fair, 
                transparent, credible, and meet international electoral 
                standards, working with relevant international actors, 
                including the United Nations;
                    (B) restore public security and promote the rule of 
                law;
                    (C) promote and ensure compliance throughout Libya 
                of international norms of justice and human rights, 
                particularly with respect to detainees, individuals 
                associated or suspected of association with the Qaddafi 
                regime, internally displaced persons, refugees, third-
                country nationals, and other vulnerable communities;
                    (D) begin a process of national reconciliation and 
                accountability for human rights abuses committed by all 
                parties, including any committed by forces fighting 
                against the Qaddafi regime; and
                    (E) work closely with the Organization for the 
                Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International 
                Atomic Energy Agency to eliminate remaining stockpiles 
                of chemical weapon agents and secure existing nuclear 
                materials and facilities.
                                 <all>