Date : 26/08/2011
WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (KUNA) -- The US administration has unfrozen USD 1.5
billion of Libyan assets to help support the transition period in Libya, said
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"We will continue to support them as they take on the regime elements that
still pose a threat to Libya's future - and as they address their humanitarian
needs and rebuild their nation", said Clinton in a statement, late on Thursday.
"The Libyan people made this revolution and they will lead the way forward,
but they deserve our help. Libya's future is not guaranteed. Considerable work
lies ahead", she added.
Clinton affirmed that the coming days and weeks "will be critical. The
United States and its partners are moving quickly and decisively on several
fronts" while supporting an "expedited process" to lift sanctions on Libyan
assets.
She further announced the release of USD 1.5 billion in Libyan assets that
had been frozen in the United States, saying that this money "will go toward
meeting the needs of the people of Libya. We urge other nations to take
similar measures. Many are already doing so'.
The United Nations Security Council's Libya Sanctions Committee approved a
U.S. proposal to unfreeze the USD 1.5 billion of Libyan assets to be used to
provide critical humanitarian to the Libyan people.
This request to unfreeze Libyan assets is divided into three key portions:
up to USD 500 million to International Humanitarian Organizations, up to USD
500 million will be transferred quickly to meet unfulfilled United Nations
Appeal requests responding to the needs of the Libyan people, and up to USD
500 million will be used "to pay for fuel costs for strictly civilian needs
and for other humanitarian purchases".
According to the State Department, the proposal has a number of safeguards,
including a restriction that none of the funds are used for military equipment
or activities.
Clinton said that the US looks to Transitional National Council "to fulfill
its international responsibilities and the commitments it has made to build a
tolerant, unified democratic state - one that protects the universal human
rights of all its citizens".
"It is critical that the TNC engage swiftly with communities and leaders
across Libya to ensure order, provide critical basic services to the people,
and pave the way for a full democratic transition. Libya's future will be
peaceful only if the leaders and people of Libya reach out to each other in a
spirit of peace. There can be no place in the new Libya for revenge attacks
and reprisals", she added.
"The TNC also has obligations to the international community. We will look
to them to ensure that Libya fulfills its treaty responsibilities, that it
ensures that its weapons stockpiles do not threaten its neighbors or fall into
the wrong hands, and that it takes a firm stand against violent extremism",
noted Clinton.
"At the same time, we call on Qadhafi, his family, and his supporters to
bring an end to their continuing violence for the sake of the Libyan people
and Libya's future", she concluded in her statement. (end)
jm.rk
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