Canada adjusts law to supply Libya ”non lethal” weapons

By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 1 October 2013:
Yesterday, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, announced that Canada is amending its laws so as to be able to supply ”non lethal military equipment” to Libya.
Under the amended regulations, suppliers of non-lethal military equipment will no longer be required to obtain prior approval from or provide notice to the UNSC for certain types of exports to Libya.
This new Canadian amendment is in reaction to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2095.
These ”non lethal” equipment that the resolution covers include those:

• intended solely for humanitarian or protective use      and related to technical assistance or training; or

• intended solely for security or disarmament      assistance to the Libyan government and related to technical assistance,      training or financial assistance.

“Canada is proud to have supported the Libyan people and their quest to secure a better, brighter future for themselves,” said Baird. “Canada is committed to supporting the Libyan authorities in order to strengthen stability and security during this critical transitional period. This amendment supports the people of Libya and the stability of the country, and brings Canada in line with its international legal obligations under the UN Security Council.”
Sanctions were originally imposed by the UNSC in February 2011 in response to the Qaddafi regime’s violence, use of force against civilians, and gross and systematic violations of human rights in its efforts to suppress the February 17th revolution that erupted in Libya at that time.
Since then, through the adoption of a number of resolutions, UN sanctions against Libya have been modified to reflect improved conditions in Libya and to support its people and the stability of the country.

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