The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) consisted of twelve countries, including Iran, seven Arab countries, plus Indonesia, Nigeria, Ghana and Venezuela. OPEC had been formed on 14th September 1960 to protest pressure by major oil companies (mostly owned by U.S., British, and Dutch nationals) to reduce oil prices and payments to producers. At first it had operated as an informal bargaining unit for the sale of oil by third world nations. It confined its activities to gaining a larger share of the revenues produced by Western oil companies and greater control over the levels of production. However, in the early 1970s things began to change. Here is a brief chronology of events:
23 August 1973 - In preparation for the Yom Kippur War, Saudi King Faisal and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat meet in Riyadh and secretly negotiate an accord whereby the Arabs will use the "oil weapon" as part of the upcoming military conflict.
15 September 1973 -
OPEC declares a negotiating front, consisting of the 6 Persian Gulf States, to pressure for price increases and an end to support of Israel, based on the 1971 Tehran agreement.
6 October 1973 -Egypt
and Syria attack Israel on Yom Kippur, starting the fourth Arab-Israeli War.8-10 October 1973 - OPEC negotiations with oil companies to revise the 1971 Tehran price agreement fail.
16 October 1973 -Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Qatar unilaterally raise posted prices by 17% to $3.65 per barrel and announce production cuts.
17 October 1973 -OPEC oil ministers agree to use oil as a weapon to punish the West for its support of Israel in the Arab-Israeli war. They recommend an embargo against unfriendly states and mandate a cut in exports
19 October 1973 -Saudi Arabia, Libya and other Arab states proclaim an embargo on oil exports to the United States.
23-28 October 1973 - The Arab oil embargo is extended to the Netherlands.
5 November 1973 - Arab producers announce a 25% output cut. A further 5% cut is threatened.
23 November 1973 - The Arab embargo is extended to Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa.
27 November 1973 - U.S. President Nixon signs the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act authorizing price, production, allocation and marketing controls.
9 December 1973 - Arab oil ministers agree to another five percent cut for non-friendly countries for January 1974.
25 December 1973 - Arab oil ministers cancel the five percent output cut for January. Saudi oil minister Yamani promises a ten percent OPEC production rise.
7-9 January 1974 - OPEC decides to freeze prices until April 1.
11 February 1974 - U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger
unveils the Project Independence plan to make U.S. energy independent.
12-14 February 1974 -
Progress in Arab-Israeli disengagement brings discussion of oil strategy among the heads of state of Algeria, Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia.17 March 1974 - Arab oil ministers, with the exception of Libya, announce the end of the embargo against the United States.
And we now have UNSC Resolution 1973 issued on 17th March 2011. I do not know what inferences can be drawn from this coincidence, but it gives one pause for thought. Is this really about civil unrest and democracy or is it the same old story.
We should also look at the main points of the Resolution. It is not about loading up, going in and kicking ass, as some would like to believe. David Cameron please note.
The resolution expresses the UN's "grave concern at the deteriorating situation, the escalation of violence, and the heavy civilian casualties", condemns "the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and summary executions" and says the attacks against civilians "may amount to crimes against humanity" and pose a "threat to international peace and security".
• A no-fly zone is "an important element for the protection of civilians as well as the safety of the delivery of humanitarian assistance and a decisive step for the cessation of hostilities in Libya".
• It "demands the immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians" and "that the Libyan authorities comply with their obligations under international law ... and take all measures to protect civilians and meet their basic needs, and to ensure the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance".
This is the prime objective - Establish ceasefire within Libya. It may or may not happen, but give peace a chance.
• It authorises UN member states "to take all necessary measures [notwithstanding the previous arms embargo] to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory''.
Again, a very important point - excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.
- It requests the co-operation of the Arab League member states in the previous measure.
• It decides to "establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians", exempting humanitarian flights, and authorises member states and Arab League nations "acting nationally or through regional organisations or arrangements, to take all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban on flights".
• It calls on member states to intercept boats and aircraft it believes may be taking arms and other items banned under the previously passed UN embargo and includes "armed mercenary personnel'' in that category – telling members states to "comply strictly with their obligations ... to prevent the provision of armed mercenary personnel to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya''.
• Member states should ensure domestic businesses "exercise vigilance when doing business with entities incorporated" in Libya "if the states have information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that such business could contribute to violence and use of force against civilians".
• It requests that the UN secretary general creates "a group of up to eight experts" to oversee the implementation of the resolution.
I am not sure that news reporting of events is entirely accurate as to the meaning of UNSC Resolution 1973
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