UNSC to stop illicit oil export from Libya

The UN Security Council (UNSC) decided Wednesday to take measures to stop illicit crude oil export from Libya, requesting countries to prohibit vessels with illicitly exported oil from entering their ports.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the council condemned the attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya while calling the Libyan government "to expeditiously contact the concerned vessel's flag state, in the first instance, to resolve the issue", Xinhua reported.

The 15-member UN body requested the Libyan government to inform a related sanction committee any vessels transporting crude oil illicitly exported from Libya.

According to the resolution, under the decision of the sanction committee, related UN member nations should carry out inspections to the vessel and direct it to return the crude oil.

Member nations are also requested to prohibit vessels with illicitly exported oil from entering their ports "unless such entry is necessary for the purpose of an inspection, in the case of emergency or in the case of return to Libya", among other measures.

The resolution meanwhile stressed that these measures apply only to vessels designated by the related committee and shall not affect the rights or obligations or responsibilities of member states under international law.