United Nations Security Council Resolution 731
Encyclopedia
UN Security Council Resolution
731, adopted unanimously on 21 January 1992, after recalling resolutions 286
(1970) and 635
(1989) which condemned acts of terrorism, the Council expressed its concern over the results of invesigations into the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103
over Lockerbie
, Scotland, and UTA Flight 772
over Chad
and Niger
which implicated officials from the Government of Libya
.
The Council condemned the fact that Libya
had not accepted responsibility for the incidents, and urged it to provide a full and effective response to the requests from the investigations with regards to the two aircraft so as to contribute to the elimination of international terrorism. It also urged Member States to encourage the Libyan government to respond. Therefore, the resolution implied that Libya extradite its two accused nationals, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Lamin Khalifah Fhimah
.
Resolution 731 was not legally binding, as it was passed under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter
and makes no reference to Chapter VII
, however this would be enforced in Resolution 748
.
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
731, adopted unanimously on 21 January 1992, after recalling resolutions 286
United Nations Security Council Resolution 286
United Nations Security Council Resolution 286, adopted on September 9, 1970, gravely concerned at the threat to innocent civilians from the hijacking of aircraft and other international travel, the Council appealed to all parties concerned for the immediate release of all passengers and crews...
(1970) and 635
United Nations Security Council Resolution 635
United Nations Security Council Resolution 635, adopted unanimously on June 14, 1989, after taking note of a International Civil Aviation Organization resolution on February 16, 1989, and expressing its concern regarding incidents of terrorism on international air travel, the Council condemned all...
(1989) which condemned acts of terrorism, the Council expressed its concern over the results of invesigations into the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
over Lockerbie
Lockerbie
Lockerbie is a town in the Dumfries and Galloway region of south-western Scotland. It lies approximately from Glasgow, and from the English border. It had a population of 4,009 at the 2001 census...
, Scotland, and UTA Flight 772
UTA Flight 772
UTA Flight 772 of the French airline Union des Transports Aériens was a scheduled flight operating from Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, via N'Djamena in Chad, to Paris CDG airport in France....
over Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
and Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
which implicated officials from the Government of Libya
Politics of Libya
The politics of Libya are currently in a phase of transition.As a result of the collapse of the Gaddafi government in August 2011 due to the 2011 Libyan civil war, Libya is under de facto administration of the National Transitional Council...
.
The Council condemned the fact that Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
had not accepted responsibility for the incidents, and urged it to provide a full and effective response to the requests from the investigations with regards to the two aircraft so as to contribute to the elimination of international terrorism. It also urged Member States to encourage the Libyan government to respond. Therefore, the resolution implied that Libya extradite its two accused nationals, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Lamin Khalifah Fhimah
Lamin Khalifah Fhimah
Lamin Khalifa Fhimah was a station manager for Libyan Arab Airlines at Luqa Airport, Malta. On 31 January 2001, he was found not guilty and acquitted of 270 counts of murder in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial by a panel of three Scottish judges sitting in a special court at Camp Zeist,...
.
Resolution 731 was not legally binding, as it was passed under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter deals with peaceful settlement of disputes. It requires countries with disputes that could lead to war to first of all try to seek solutions through peaceful methods such as negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement,...
and makes no reference to Chapter VII
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, however this would be enforced in Resolution 748
United Nations Security Council Resolution 748
UN Security Council Resolution 748, adopted unanimously on 31 March 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 731 , the Council decided, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, that the Government of Libya must now comply with requests from investigations relating to the destruction of Pan Am...
.
See also
- Chadian–Libyan conflict
- Foreign relations of LibyaForeign relations of LibyaThe foreign relations of Libya under Gaddafi underwent much fluctuation and change. They were marked by severe tension with the West and by Gaddafi's activist policies in the Middle East and Africa, including his financial and military support for...
- Investigation into the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103Investigation into the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103The investigation into the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 began at 19:03 on December 21, 1988 when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up over Lockerbie in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The perpetrators had intended the plane to crash into the sea, destroying any traceable evidence, but the late departure...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 701 to 800 (1991–1993)