Obama extends national emergency with respect to Libya

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (KUNA) -- President Barack Obama notified the US Congress on Monday that he was extending the four-year-old emergency declared by the president with respect to Libya.
"The violence that has spread throughout the country, resulting in the evacuation and temporary relocation of US Embassy personnel, demonstrates the continued insecurity and threat to regional stability caused by the ongoing conflict in Libya," said the letter from Obama to the leaders of the US House and Senate.
"Much of the current conflict is over power and access to Libya's resources, and we run the risk of further destabilization if sanctions do not remain in effect." "We continue to encourage Libyans to engage in dialogue and cease violence," Obama said.
"Those that reject dialogue and obstruct and undermine Libya's democratic transition must be held accountable, which is why we worked with the UN Security Council to pass UN Security Council Resolution 2174 in August 2014 to address threats to Libya's peace, security and stability." "While we work with the international community to identify those individuals who pose a threat to Libya's democratic transition, we must also continue to ensure that the appropriate sanctions remain in place," the president said.
"The situation in Libya continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and we need to protect against the diversion of assets or other abuse by certain members of (Colonel Muammar) Qadhafi's family and other former regime officials," he said in the letter.
"Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Libya." (end) rm.sd