News / International
Western powers should not take unfair advantage of reconstructing Libya
01 Sep 2011 at 02:05hrs | Views
With the first "Friends of Libya" conference about to start in Paris Thursday, it seems necessary to remind Western powers not to take unfair advantage of reconstruction and business opportunities in post-Gaddafi Libya and let the U.N. Security Council take the lead in reconstruction.
France and Britain, which spearheaded the overwhelming NATO air strikes against the Gaddafi administration launched in mid-March, will host the conference, with representatives from some 60 countries and international bodies participating.
The conference in the French capital should serve as a platform to rally international strength to help speed up reconstruction in post-war Libya -- and not become another Versailles, with Western powers scrambling to promote their interests in a war-torn country.
From the beginning, Western powers have taken the upper hand in the military intervention against Libya, while some Western companies, such as the French oil giant Total, are now anxiously preparing their return to Libya through close contacts with Libya's National Transitional Council.
Currently, some Western powers are eyeing commercial interests, including rich oil resources in post-Gaddafi Libya, more closely than the comprehensive reconstruction process yearned for by Libyans.
This doesn't bode well for the Libyan people, who have suffered heavy casualties and property damage in the war.
Given this situation, the U.N. Security Council, which is widely regarded as a representative of the world community and highly experienced in managing reconstruction in war-torn countries over the past decades, should play a more assertive role in post-Gaddafi Libya instead of letting itself be marginalized.
Moreover, regional heavyweight bodies such as the African Union and the Arab League also need to be heeded to achieve a more comprehensive reconstruction in Libya.
Finally, the opinions of different parties in the North African country itself should also be respected to ensure a comprehensive reconstruction.
Only then can conflicts and differences between different camps, tribes and regions in Libya gradually be eliminated, lasting peace and stability guaranteed, and economic prosperity achieved.
China, as a long-term constructive player in Libya's economic development, is involved in 50 projects in Libya worth 18.8 billion U.S. dollars.
These projects, suspended due to rampant war fire, mainly concern locals' livelihoods and benefit the local economy. It is hoped that the projects can resume once the situation in the war-torn country stabilizes.
It is China's wish to play a constructive role, together with the international community, in helping to build a brighter future for the Libyan people. It is China's wish to be a true friend of Libya.
France and Britain, which spearheaded the overwhelming NATO air strikes against the Gaddafi administration launched in mid-March, will host the conference, with representatives from some 60 countries and international bodies participating.
The conference in the French capital should serve as a platform to rally international strength to help speed up reconstruction in post-war Libya -- and not become another Versailles, with Western powers scrambling to promote their interests in a war-torn country.
From the beginning, Western powers have taken the upper hand in the military intervention against Libya, while some Western companies, such as the French oil giant Total, are now anxiously preparing their return to Libya through close contacts with Libya's National Transitional Council.
Currently, some Western powers are eyeing commercial interests, including rich oil resources in post-Gaddafi Libya, more closely than the comprehensive reconstruction process yearned for by Libyans.
This doesn't bode well for the Libyan people, who have suffered heavy casualties and property damage in the war.
Given this situation, the U.N. Security Council, which is widely regarded as a representative of the world community and highly experienced in managing reconstruction in war-torn countries over the past decades, should play a more assertive role in post-Gaddafi Libya instead of letting itself be marginalized.
Moreover, regional heavyweight bodies such as the African Union and the Arab League also need to be heeded to achieve a more comprehensive reconstruction in Libya.
Finally, the opinions of different parties in the North African country itself should also be respected to ensure a comprehensive reconstruction.
Only then can conflicts and differences between different camps, tribes and regions in Libya gradually be eliminated, lasting peace and stability guaranteed, and economic prosperity achieved.
China, as a long-term constructive player in Libya's economic development, is involved in 50 projects in Libya worth 18.8 billion U.S. dollars.
These projects, suspended due to rampant war fire, mainly concern locals' livelihoods and benefit the local economy. It is hoped that the projects can resume once the situation in the war-torn country stabilizes.
It is China's wish to play a constructive role, together with the international community, in helping to build a brighter future for the Libyan people. It is China's wish to be a true friend of Libya.
Source - Xinhua
