III 

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— 


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•SRES 317 IS 

(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; 


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•SRES 317 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the people of Libya for their 

3 tremendous courage and extraordinary resilience in 

4 liberating themselves from the despotic regime of 

5 Muammar Qaddafi; 

6 (2) commends the men and women of the 

7 United States Armed Forces and their coalition 

8 partners who engaged in military operations to pro9 tect the people of Libya for their extraordinary brav10 ery and professionalism; 


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•SRES 317 IS 

1 (3) supports the legitimate aspirations of the 

2 people of Libya to form a democratic government 

3 that respects universal human rights and freedoms, 

4 and allows Libyans to build their lives free from 

5 fear; 

6 (4) welcomes the October 23, 2011 Libyan Dec7 laration of Liberation by the National Transitional 

8 Council; 

9 (5) affirms the national interest of the United 

10 States in a successful and irreversible transition to 

11 democracy in Libya, including— 

12 (A) respect for the rule of law; 

13 (B) independent media; 

14 (C) a vibrant civil society; and 

15 (D) universal rights and freedoms, includ16 ing equal rights for all citizens, freedom of 

17 speech, and human rights; and 

18 (6) urges the swift establishment of a new in19 terim transitional authority in Libya that is broadly 

20 inclusive and representative of the Libyan people 

21 and will— 

22 (A) prepare for elections that are free, fair, 

23 transparent, credible, and meet international 

24 electoral standards, working with relevant inter25 national actors, including the United Nations; 


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•SRES 317 IS 

1 (B) restore public security and promote 

2 the rule of law; 

3 (C) promote and ensure compliance 

4 throughout Libya of international norms of jus5 tice and human rights, particularly with respect 

6 to detainees, individuals associated or suspected 

7 of association with the Qaddafi regime, inter8 nally displaced persons, refugees, third-country 

9 nationals, and other vulnerable communities; 

10 (D) begin a process of national reconcili11 ation and accountability for human rights 

12 abuses committed by all parties, including any 

13 committed by forces fighting against the 

14 Qaddafi regime; and 

15 (E) work closely with the Organization for 

16 the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the 

17 International Atomic Energy Agency to elimi18 nate remaining stockpiles of chemical weapon 

19 agents and secure existing nuclear materials 

20 and facilities. 

Æ 


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