ANKARA — Turkey has invited China and Russia to join for the first time discussions on Libya as part of a contact group of major powers, to convene this week in Istanbul, a Turkish official said.
“Russia and China have been invited as permanent members of the UN Security Council. We think they will participate but no information has reached us so far on what level,” foreign ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal told reporters.
The so-called International Contact Group on Libya, scheduled to meet on Friday in Istanbul, includes the countries participating in the Nato-led campaign targeting Muammar Gadhafi’s regime and regional players.
Russia abstained from a vote on a Security Council resolution in March that opened the way for international involvement in Libya and has since criticised the scale and intent of the Nato-led strikes.
China, for his part, had maintained a policy of non-interference in the conflict, but has appeared more involved recently and its officials have met several times with Libyan opposition representatives.
Along with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the foreign ministers of Australia, Bahrain, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland and the UAE have confirmed their participation in the Istanbul meeting, Unal said. — AFP
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Monday that the next meeting of the international contact group on Libya should take place in Africa.
“I hope that the next meeting of the contact group, after that in Istanbul, can take place in an African country to mark the involvement of the African Union in the process” of getting Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi to leave power, Juppe told journalists.
The contact group, which is scheduled to meet in Istanbul on Friday, was created in London on March 29. It includes all the country’s participating in a NATO campaign against Kadhafi’s regime.
Juppe said after meeting Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz that he was pleased the two agreed on what should happen next regarding the Libyan conflict.
“As president Aziz has said, as we have been saying for a long time, Kadhafi has lost all legitimacy, there is no solution if he remains in power. He must therefore commit to leaving power and a process of negotiations can begin.
“We think that the AU (African Union) can play a crucial role in achieving this result,” Juppe said, adding he hoped the pan-african bloc would be represented in Istanbul.
The African Union recently endorsed a roadmap towards a peace deal in Libya at a summit in Equatorial Guinea, which calls for a ceasefire and negotiations on democratic reforms, with provision for a multinational peacekeeping force organised by the United Nations.
So far the AU has been unable to convince the rebels to accept the proposal, or to convince Kadhafi to leave power as the rebellion demands.
The AU also decided that its members would not execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for the Libyan leader.
Kadhafi was one of the main contributors to AU running costs but also, thanks to his petrodollars, unilaterally funded several projects across the continent for years.
African leaders have publicly criticised NATO’s air attacks on Kadhafi’s regime, including South African President Jacob Zuma who said the alliance’s actions were undermining AU efforts to find a lasting solution in the north African country.
via Paris wants Libya contact group to meet in Africa < French news | Expatica France.
Muammar Qaddafi addressed the general debate of the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly on September 23, 2009.
The proverbial noose seems to be tightening around the neck of Libyan despot Muammar al-Qaddafi.
Turkey is the latest nation to recognize Libya’s rebel movement as the country’s legitimate representatives. Since Turkey had at one point tried to set itself up as a potential honest broker between the two sides, this closes down yet another avenue for Qaddafi.
The rebels went public Sunday with details of a pact they had offered Qaddafi around a month ago. Under this agreement, he would be allowed to remain in Libya in return for ceding power.
However, that offer was made before the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Qaddafi and his son, Saif al-Islam.
That means if Qaddafi were to hand over the reigns now, yet remain in the country, then the country’s new leaders would be in violation of the ICC.
Qaddafi’s lawyers have argued that the country is not bound to honor the warrants, given that Libya is not a signed-up member of the court. The Sudanese said the same when their leader, Omar al-Bashir, was indicted by the court. Like the Sudanese, the Libyans are wrong. The court does have the authority to act in countries that are not members if the UN Security Council asks it to do so. The only times it has made this request to date have been in the cases of Sudan and Libya.
Given that the ICC warrants are legal, they certainly complicate Qaddafi’s choices should he decide to flee the country. Venezuela was originally touted as a possible refuge for him, including by Britain’s foreign minister, William Hague. However, given that Venezuela is a member of the court, Hugo Chavez would now find himself in breach of his obligations were he to offer Qaddafi a spot in the sun.
So what’s an ICC-indicted dictator to do in these troubled times? Here’s a look at his options were he to choose to run.
“The Troika”
One of the oft-observed hypocrisies surrounding the ICC is that the US, Russia and China – who all have permanent seats on the UN Security Council – do not belong to the court. However, they all voted in favor of the UN resolution that put Libya within the ICC’s jurisdiction, so it wouldn’t look too good for them not to hand him over. If Qaddafi had ever wanted to visit Disneyland, the Hermitage or the Great Wall of China then he’d better cross them off his bucket list now.
The Middle East And Wider Muslim World
Saudi Arabia is traditionally the destination of choice for deposed Muslim despots. Idi Amin lived out the end of his days in Jeddah, and Tunisia’s Ben Ali is there right now, dodging prosecution back home. The main complicating factor for Qaddafi is Saudi Arabia’s membership of the Arab League. That group voted to request a no-fly zone for Libya, which paved the way for NATO’s actions. Various members of the league have been backpedaling recently, but still, the stench of hypocrisy would be strong.
As can be inferred from the original Arab League vote, Qaddafi’s massacring of fellow Muslims hasn’t exactly won him a lot of fans around the region. Consequently Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq and so on – none of which are court members – are probably non-starters. Syria, of course, is having a few problems of its own.
Meanwhile, in the wider Muslim world, Indonesia might seem an appealing option, at least at first sight. After all, its people gave Suharto, their own toppled strongman, a fairly easy time after his resignation. However, Indonesia’s now doing well for itself, thank you very much. It’s a member of the G20 and is sometimes touted as the most successful of the Muslim democracies. That’s probably something its leaders would not want to jeopardize by inviting old Mad Dog into town.
The so-called ‘Stans are predominantly Muslim and mostly outside the court’s jurisdiction. But they’re probably unlikely options too. Kazakhstan has long been trying to shake off its Borat-heavy image and be taken seriously on the world stage. The others, dubious though they may be, are mostly trying to cozy up to the West either as energy providers or places of strategic influence.
Latin America
The fact that the option of crashing on Hugo Chavez’s spare couch has been withdrawn underlines just how dire things are for Qaddafi in this region. Practically all the Latin states are members of the court. The main hold-outs are Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. At least Qaddafi would be assured of good coffee.
Africa
Much of Africa is signed up to the court, though the African Union has had some grumbles with it over recent years. Indeed, it recently went so far as to call on its members to disregard Qaddafi’s ICC indictment.
Still, if they adhere to their obligations, then it severely limits Qaddafi’s freedom of movement.
Rwanda is not a member, but probably wouldn’t want to have someone accused of crimes against humanity on its turf for – well – obvious reasons. Eritrea might be worth a shot. Were he to elope to Sudan then he and that country’s president would have a lot to talk about. Ethiopia is a prominent non-signatory to the court, but – as with so many other cases here – would probably be unwilling to squander its relations with the West.
Zimbabwe might be able to tough it out; Robert Mugabe likes tweaking Western noses. As he watched the “Arab Spring” unfold Mugabe seems to have drawn many of the same conclusions as Qaddafi. However, whether the Libyan leader would like to hitch his star to an even more elderly strongman in an increasingly dysfunctional government is another matter.
None of Qaddafi’s remaining African options look especially enticing. There’s Somalia, if he fancies stepping into that Mad Max-style maelstrom. Mauritania – a country that still has problems with slavery – is another non-member of the court. The same is true of Swaziland. Qaddafi, used to his contingent of female bodyguards, may appreciate the King and his fourteen wives. However, he may not appreciate the fact that Swaziland has a forty percent AIDS-infection rate and seems to be on the verge of economic collapse.
Asia
A large swath of Asian countries are not members of the court. However, it’s hard to imagine any of them being especially keen to welcome Qaddafi, except perhaps Burma, or “Myanmar” as it calls itself these days. North Korea is another question mark, though the reclusive “hermit kingdom” may only have room for one eccentric tyrant.
Wild Cards
Belarus – often cited as Europe’s last dictatorship – is presumably a possibility. When a bombing recently rocked its capital, the UN Security Council took the unusual step of calling it an “apparent” terrorist act, suggesting they were not entirely sure the authorities weren’t responsible. The country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, was recently re-elected with 79.7 percent of the vote, so presumably he has a bit of political capital he could spend on offering Qaddafi a home. With the eyes of the world increasingly upon him, though, he probably won’t.
India is also a big skeptic of the court. However, it did join the Security Council consensus and send Libya to the ICC in the first place, so you’re unlikely to see Qaddafi chilling around Goa any time soon.
Another wild card is Papua New Guinea. It’s unlikely to make an offer because it’s so prominently in Australia’s sphere of influence. Even if it did reach out, perhaps the never-ending rumors about some of its tribes’ more unbelievable culinary habits might make Qaddafi think again.
Of course, the likeliest retirement home for Qaddafi is under the rubble of a “command and control building” that some NATO missile just so happens to hit while he’s inside. However, if reports are accurate that the rebels are planning a final push for Tripoli, then Qaddafi may have to make some very fast – and very tough – choices about his upcoming travels.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BNO NEWS) — Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) on Monday froze the Libyan assets in the Arab-Turkish Bank (A&T Bank), the state-run Anatolia news agency (AA) reported.
The Fund confiscated the A&T Bank (Arap Türk Bankası) after the Turkish government directed to freeze the assets of the Libyan Foreign Bank, the largest shareholder of the Turkish financial institution.
Furthermore, the TMSF removed A&T Bank’s director-general and all board members representing the Libyan Foreign Bank which owns 62.37 of its stakes. The assets freeze and confiscation were taken in line with the United Nations resolutions 1970 and 1973.
Temporary managers were appointed by the TMSF as the measures will remain effective as long as the UN resolutions continue in place. The government assured that the A&T Bank’s financial stability was intact and will continue operations as usual.
The European Union has also frozen the assets of the Libyan government, its companies and investment funds since the beginning of the uprising in the North African nation.
On Sunday, Turkey recognized the rebel’s National Transitional Council as Libya’s representatives during the visit of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Benghazi, the rebellion’s stronghold.
Davutoglu also promised more Turkish aid amounting up to $200 million, which will be an addition to the $100 million granted last month to Libyan rebels at a meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Libya has been engulfed in a civil war since an uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime began in mid-February, while Libyan forces have been accused of violently cracking down on anti-government protesters.
NATO took control of foreign military operations in Libya on March 31 under UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorized member states to take ‘all necessary measures’ to protect civilians.
Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi and two others, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi (his son) and Abdullah Al-Senussi, for crimes against humanity. However, NATO announced that it will not seek the leader’s arrest as it is not part of its mandate.
NATO forces have carried out frequent air strikes and imposed a no-fly zone over the North African country. At least 5,000 and as many as 13,000 people are believed to have been killed since the uprising began in February, fueled by successful revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt.
(Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)
via Channel 6 News » Turkey freezes Libya’s assets in Arab-Turkish Bank.
Foreign minister offers $200 million in aid as part of diplomatic shift away from Gaddafi.
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In Benghazi on Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu offered the rebels official recognition [AFP]
Turkey has extended official recognition to Libya’s rebels and offered at least $200 million in aid as part of a diplomatic shift away from the regime of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, met with rebel leaders in Benghazi during a one-day visit to the country on Sunday. He said his country now recognised the opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
At the same time, Turkey officially withdrew its ambassador from Tripoli. Salim Levent Sahinkaya had left the Libyan capital in March due to the fighting and had not returned or been replaced.
Turkey has long maintained business ties with Gaddafi’s Libya and initially expressed disapproval for NATO air strikes that sought to halt a regime advance on the rebel-held east. But since that campaign began, Turkey has distanced itself.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Davutoglu called Libya a “rising star” and said Turkey wanted to see the country succeed.
Rebels back off Gaddafi ‘retirement’ offer
After Davutoglu’s press conference, a spokesman for the rebels retracted a statement made earlier by the opposition leader that Gaddafi could be allowed to “retire” if he gives up all his authority.
Abdel-Hafiz Ghoga suggested that Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the chairman of the NTC, was expressing a personal view and said that the idea is “not part of any discussions on our part in negotiations”.
“Let Gaddafi show us one place in Libya where he hasn’t harmed, tortured or killed people and he could stay there, but this place doesn’t exist,” Ghoga said on Sunday evening.
In an interview with the Reuters news agency earlier in the day, Jalil said that the longtime Libyan leader is free to “retire” and stay in the country if he resigns from his position and gives up all power. Jalil said he made the offer to Gaddafi via the United Nations one month ago and had not received a response.
Gaddafi now a ‘wanted man’
The International Criminal Court (ICC) last week issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi, his son, Saif al-Islam and his intelligence chief, Abdullah Sanussi, citing evidence of crimes against humanity committed against political opponents.
The rebel leadership has said it will do its best to see the three men arrested, but it appeared from Jalil’s interview that the offer to Gaddafi still stood.
“If he desires to stay in Libya, we will determine the place and it will be under international supervision. And there will be international supervision of all his movements,” he said.
“As a peaceful solution, we offered that he can resign and order his soldiers to withdraw from their barracks and positions, and then he can decide either to stay in Libya or abroad.”
Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Benghazi, said news of the offer had been met with dismay by some residents and that it no longer stood, since Gaddafi was a wanted man.
But Jalil still seemed to stand by it. He said the rebel council believed Gaddafi could be held in a military barracks or a civilian building. Jalil is Gaddafi’s former justice minister; he defected in the early days of the uprising, which began in mid-February.
There was no immediate reaction from the regime in Tripoli, where Gaddafi has been maintaining a tight hold in an effort to preserve his 41-year rule.
Zuma diplomacy
Meanwhile, South African President Jacob Zuma, who has failed so far in efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, announced he would be visiting Moscow to continue negotiations.
He visited Tripoli at the end of May as a representative of the African Union (AU) but failed to secure a concession from Gaddafi, and the rebels rejected his effort. One sticking point has been disagreements over Gaddafi’s future.
The visit to Russia follows an AU summit in Equatorial Guinea, which sought to push a regional peace plan to end the conflict in the north African nation.
The Kremlin said in a statement late on Saturday that Zuma and Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, held a telephone conversation in which they agreed to meet as soon as possible.
“The heads of state agreed on a personal meeting in the closest time to agree and co-ordinate the ensuing steps for a solution to the internal Libyan conflict,” it said.
Source:
Agencies
via Turkey recognises Libya rebels – Africa – Al Jazeera English.
Prime Minister Erdogan says they received no reply to offer to aid Libyan leader in leaving country
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 10 June 2011 23.03 BST
Erdogan offers to help Gaddafi leave Libya
The Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan believes that Muammar Gaddafi has no option but to leave Libya. Photograph: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday his country had offered a “guarantee” to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi if he left Libya, but said Ankara had received no answer.
“Gaddafi has no way out but to leave Libya, through the guarantees given to him, it seems,” Erdogan told NTV broadcaster in an interview.
“We ourselves have offered him this guarantee, via the representatives we’ve sent. We told him we would help him to be sent wherever he wanted to be sent. We would discuss the issue with our allies, according to the response we receive. Unfortunately we still haven’t got a response from Gaddafi.”
Erdogan, whose country is a member of Nato, did not specify what kind of guarantee his country had offered to Gaddafi.
via Gaddafi received ‘guarantee’ from Turkey to leave Libya | World news | The Guardian.
