After working through #UN to unfreeze #Libya's assets, #USrecognizes Libyan Transitional Council. Read more: goo.gl/BpJy2
World Community Welcomes Libya’s Transitional Council
Washington — Leaders of nations and international organizations are welcoming Libya back into the community of nations, while recognizing that Libyan civilians need continued NATO protections until the threat of violence has passed.
“Nearly 70 countries so far have recognized the TNC [Transitional National Council], including 18 African nations, the Arab League and now Russia,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a Paris briefing September 1. “It is time for others to follow suit,” she said after a multilateral meeting where leaders sketched the outline of a new Libya, won through a citizen uprising that began six months ago.
Mustafa Abdul Jalil, chairman of the TNC, attended the Paris meeting, organized after the rebels gained control of the capital, Tripoli, about a week ago. Jalil said in Paris that the world had placed a bet on the success of the insurgents. “The Libyans showed their courage and made their dream real,” he said.
International leaders acknowledged that the TNC will need help to set the nation aright after 40 years in the grip of President Muammar Qadhafi, and giving the rebel leadership access to national assets is a key step.
“The United States and our partners have worked through the United Nations to unfreeze billions of dollars in order for Libya to get access to their state assets to meet critical needs,” said Clinton. She said a release of Libyan funds was in motion, with the expectation that $1.5 billion might be disbursed within days.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon represented the United Nations in Paris and called on the Security Council to make a decision on deployment of a civilian mission to assist in stabilizing the country and building civic institutions.
In return for international support, Jalil said, the fledgling leadership of Libya must “have security in Libya, tolerance and forgiveness must be promoted, the state of law must be respected.”
Clinton commended the TNC for its repeated pledges to pursue those values in governance. “The international community will be watching and supporting Libya’s leaders as they keep their commitments to conduct an inclusive transition, act under the rule of law, and protect vulnerable populations,” Clinton said. “And that should include enshrining the rights of women as well as men in their new constitution.”
The TNC leaders requested the expertise of other governments in a wide range of activities, Clinton said, such as establishing an accountable and transparent financial system and an impartial and independent police force. She said the TNC will also seek assistance from the international community in resolving social needs such as housing for citizens who fled the violence and return to wrecked homes.
Clinton said the Paris meeting “validated the confidence that all the other nations around the table had placed in the TNC.” At the same time, she said, “they still have a huge hill to climb here.”With the sanction of a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya, the U.S., European and Arab partners began operations in March to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Libya and address the threat posed to international peace and securi
Read more: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2011/09/20110902115831enelrahc0.3402063.html#ixzz1XC73EWZV
