Determination and Certification under Section 8(b) of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act

President Bush certified that Libya had fulfilled UN Security Council resolutions related to terrorism, triggering a statutory requirement under the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996. This determination removed mandatory sanctions on Libya and directed the Secretary of State to notify Congress and publish the certification.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 24907

Impact dates

Apr 23, 2004
Transmit determination to congressional committees and arrange Federal Register publication

Key directives

Determine and certify Libya has fulfilled UNSCR 731, 748, and 883
Transmit determination and certification to appropriate congressional committees
Arrange for publication in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · State Department

Timeline

Immediate

Sanctions relief triggered upon certification
Secretary of State directed to transmit to Congress

Near term (90d)

Federal Register publication arranged

Long term

Normalization of US-Libya relations pathway
Potential reopening of oil/energy trade with Libya

Risks & tensions

Timing coincided with broader Libya diplomatic opening; certification was precondition for deeper negotiations
Congressional notification requirement suggests potential legislative oversight tension
Document does not specify which 'appropriate congressional committees' — vague recipient scope