ABU DHABI: The six Gulf Arab states appealed to the UN Security Council on Monday to protect civilians in Libya as violence raged in the North African country, the United Arab Emirates foreign minister said.
"We call on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to face their responsibilities in helping the dear people" of Libya, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said at the opening session of a foreign ministers' meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Abu Dhabi.
"The meeting is being held amid difficult changes the brotherly Libyan people are going through, prompting us to join our efforts to help them in their crisis," he said.
The UN Security Council unanimously passed sanctions against the Kadhafi regime and on February 26 ordered an investigation into possible crimes against humanity.
Any move towards military action is likely to face tough resistance from China, Russia and other members of the 15-member council.
"At the UN Security Council we are working closely with partners on a contingency basis on elements of a resolution on a no-fly zone, making clear the need for regional support, a clear trigger for such a resolution and an appropriate legal basis," Hague told Britain's parliament on Monday.
The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which together are estimated to have $1.35 trillion in surplus assets amassed in the past few years from oil revenues.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.