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(HERALD) British, French leaders in scramble for Libya

British, French leaders in scramble for Libya
Friday, 16 September 2011 02:00

[WHOSE victory? Mr Sarkozy and Mr Cameron hold aloft the arms of interim Libyan leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil on the streets of Benghazi. Pic from dailymail.co.uk]

AS NATO forces continue what they believe to be the final bombardment in Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's remaining strongholds, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicholas Sarkozy yesterday visited Tripoli and Benghazi where they met Libya's rebel National Transitional Council leadership.

Cameron and Sarkozy become the first Western leaders to visit Libya after the fall of Colonel Gaddafi and after the recognition of the NTC by all the five veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.

This latest development is seen as an attempt by forces that spearheaded the NATO air warfare in Libya to scramble for reconstruction contracts.

They are also widely viewed as a way of trying to safeguard and entrench their interests, in the oil and energy-rich nation.

The African Union which has attempted to mediate a peace deal between the government of Col Gaddafi and the NTC has so far refused to recognise the NTC as Libya's governing authority, preferring a transitional arrangement where all parties are included.

It has also urged an "immediate cessation of hostilities" though several AU member states, among them Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia have gone it alone in recognising the NTC.

An AU Ad Hoc Committee meeting in Pretoria on Wednesday expressed concern that the Libyan conflict as it stands at the moment, may give rise to terrorism due to the proliferation of weapons.

According to the communiqué, the Ad Hoc Committee on Libya was "concerned with the possibility of the current situation undermining regional peace and security" which could be brought about through "terrorism and the proliferation of weapons".
Cameron has pledged British help in hunting down Col Gaddafi whose whereabouts are still unknown though he continues sending broadcasts aired by some Arab radio and TV stations.

DISCUSSION: THE SCRAMBLE FOR LIBYAN OIL AND RECONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

"We will help you to find Gaddafi and to bring him to justice," said Cameron.
He added that they would "go on with the NATO mission for as long as is necessary under UN Resolution 1973 to protect civilians."

[BRITISH plastic smile or genuine friendship? Once upon a time, Tony Blair the former British premier met Colonel Gaddafi in 2004, held talks and diplomatic links were reopened. ]

BRITISH plastic smile or genuine friendship? Once upon a time, Tony Blair the former British premier met Colonel Gaddafi in 2004, held talks and diplomatic links were reopened.

Sarkozy, who was in the company of his Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, told the Libyans that there was "no ulterior motive" in the West's assistance to the new Libya.
"We did what we did because we thought it was right," said Sarkozy.

Cameron promised the NTC leaders that Britain would release US$950 million in Libyan assets as part of a series of measures aimed at supporting the new authorities in Tripoli.

He also said that the British government would release another 12 billion pounds in frozen Libyan assets as soon as the UN Security Council approved a draft resolution that Britain and France are expected to put forward today.

"If we can pass the UN resolution that we will be putting forward with France tomorrow, there's a further 12 billion pounds of assets in the UK alone that we will be looking to unfreeze," Cameron said.

Russia, which has multi-billion dollar investments in the energy sector and infrastructural projects initially, accused Western countries of supporting rebels.
However, it recognised the NTC on September 1 and said yesterday it backed the lifting of the NATO-imposed no-fly zone over Libya in a new resolution being drafted by Britain.

"Considering the changed situation in Libya, Russia has proposed to include in the draft and clauses the lifting of the no-fly zone regime," foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters in remarks broadcast on state television.

Lukashevich added, "We proceed from the fact that the UN mission's main goal should be the support of a transitional process in Libya and helping the national effort to restore security and order," prepare for elections and rebuild the economy.

China, which officially recognised the NTC as the ruling authority and representative of the Libyan people on Monday said yesterday it supported calls by Libya's NTC to represent Libya at the United Nations.

"China supports the NTC representing Libya at the United Nations," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said at a daily press briefing yesterday.

These comments came ahead of the United Nations General Assembly's move to discuss whether the NTC could represent Libya at the United Nations next week.

"China appreciates the positive role the AU has played in resolving the Libya issue," Jiang said, adding that Libya's early restoration of stability serves the common interests of the Libyan people and the international community.

However, China still expected all parties in Libya to start an inclusive political process, realise national reconciliation and rebuild the country, Jiang said.

"Libya's future path of development should be decided by the Libyan people," said Jiang.

Meanwhile, Venezuela and other countries in a left-leaning regional trade group have said they oppose giving Libya's UN seat to the rebel movement.

Venezuelan Ambassador Jorge Valero said in a letter Wednesday to General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser that the ALBA members considered the NTC as an illegitimate authority imposed by foreign interventionists.

Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador, and Bolivia are also among members of the ALBA group.

- AFP/Xinhua/Prensa Latina/Reuters.

Labels: LIBYA, MUAMMAR AL-GADDAFI, NEOCOLONIALISM

posted by MrK @ 3:31 PM