News / International
African countries and Arab neighbors, have an important role to play in Libya
30 Mar 2011 at 00:15hrs | Views
London - Over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from key regional organizations on Tuesday attending a London conference on Libya and agreed to increase the political and military pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
They agreed that Gaddafi and the Libyan authorities led by him have completely lost legitimacy and will be held accountable for their actions.
A statement released by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who chaired the meeting, said that the Libyan people must be free to determine their own future.
Participants recognized the need for all Libyans, including the Interim Transitional National Council, tribal leaders and others, to come together to begin an inclusive political process, consistent with the relevant UN security Council resolutions, through which they can choose their own future.
"We call on the international community to support this process, working closely with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative Abdel-Elah Mohamed Al-Khatib. Regional actors, particularly Libya's fellow African countries and Arab neighbors, have an important role to play," Hague said.
In order to take the move forward, a Libya contact group was agreed upon to provide leadership and overall political direction to the international effort in close coordination with the UN, the African Union and other regional organizations.
In addition, the group will provide a forum for coordinating the international response on Libya and provide a focal point in the international community for contact with the Libyan parties.
Qatar has agreed to convene the first meeting of the Group as soon as possible. Thereafter, the chairmanship will rotate between the countries of the region and beyond it.
The North Atlantic Council, meeting alongside its coalition partners, will provide the executive political direction to NATO operations.
Participants also welcomed UN chief Ban Ki-moon's offer to lead the coordination of humanitarian assistance and planning for longer-term stabilization support. Turkey, other key regional players and international agencies offered to support this work and take it forward with the Contact Group.
They agreed that Gaddafi and the Libyan authorities led by him have completely lost legitimacy and will be held accountable for their actions.
A statement released by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who chaired the meeting, said that the Libyan people must be free to determine their own future.
Participants recognized the need for all Libyans, including the Interim Transitional National Council, tribal leaders and others, to come together to begin an inclusive political process, consistent with the relevant UN security Council resolutions, through which they can choose their own future.
"We call on the international community to support this process, working closely with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative Abdel-Elah Mohamed Al-Khatib. Regional actors, particularly Libya's fellow African countries and Arab neighbors, have an important role to play," Hague said.
In addition, the group will provide a forum for coordinating the international response on Libya and provide a focal point in the international community for contact with the Libyan parties.
Qatar has agreed to convene the first meeting of the Group as soon as possible. Thereafter, the chairmanship will rotate between the countries of the region and beyond it.
The North Atlantic Council, meeting alongside its coalition partners, will provide the executive political direction to NATO operations.
Participants also welcomed UN chief Ban Ki-moon's offer to lead the coordination of humanitarian assistance and planning for longer-term stabilization support. Turkey, other key regional players and international agencies offered to support this work and take it forward with the Contact Group.
Source - Xinhua
