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Russia won’t recognize Libyan rebels – Lavrov
Published: 18 July, 2011, 21:04
Tens of thousands of Libyans attend a mass rally hoping to bolster rebel moral in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi and send a message to Tripoli, on July 6, 2011 (AFP Photo / Gianluigi Guercia)
(5.5Mb) embed videoTAGS: Conflict, Military, Russia, Hillary Clinton, USA, Alice Hibbert, Lavrov, Libya
Russia has refused to recognize the Libyan rebels as the only legitimate authority in the war-torn country and has criticized the US and other nations for taking such a step.
“We do not share this position for one simple reason – this position again means that those behind the recognition are fully siding with one political force in the Libyan civil war. This again means that those who took this decision are pursuing a policy of isolation, in this case, the isolation of Tripoli,” he said.
The foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, was explaining Russia’s stance on the issue at a press confrence in Moscow, following his meeting with his Azeri counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov.
“As for us, just like in any other conflict, we reject isolationism as a way to resolve problems, and believe in involvement. And in this context, at different levels we maintain contact with both Tripoli and Benghazi. We urge them to take a constructive stance and take responsibility for the fate of the Libyan people, and to get to the negotiation table to launch a dialogue about creating a transitional structure that would prepare for reforms and a free democratic election,” Lavrov added.
The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, announced the recognition of the rebels on Friday at a meeting of the international contact group on Libya. Washington and more than thirty other Western and Arab states have said they will deal with Benghazi until an interim government is in place.
The move also potentially gives the Libyan opposition access to billions of dollars of Gaddafi's assets frozen in American banks.
Lavrov stressed that Moscow’s stance doesn’t mean that Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi will receive political asylum in Russia if he gives up power.
”This question has already been answered many times. And the answer is negative,” he said.
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1 comment
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@dd Russia has to obey? really?
When the Russians destroyed the great American trained Georgian army in five days.Who were they obeying? They poke the USA and NATO in the eye by destroying their ally and yet the great USA could do nothing but stand and watch.
Russia holds a veto power in the UN,and the only reason France and the UK with the USA could go into Libya is cos the Russians did not use their veto power.
Why is NATO not in Syria now? cos Russians have naval bases there,that's why.
It seems Americans and some of their poorly informed backers are lost in their egomania.
I commend the true and just Russian position in this situation.
How many people are looking at the FACTS?
How many people have had the very simple mathematics CLARIFIED for them?
Misrata, in Libya, has a total DISTRICT population (which includes Bani Walid) of just over 550,000 in 2006,
Misrata is the third largest city in Libya, after Tripoli and Benghazi.
Geograpically Misrata and the total Bani Walid district is less than 5% of the country of Libya. The population of Libya is about 6.5 million people.
This makes the Misrata city populationless than 8% of the total population. The rebel support is probably less than 5 or 6% of the population of Libya.
Am I wrong on these numbers?
If 8% of the population of any Western country living within a district measuring about 5% of the total country's geography decided to take up arms and not just seperate, but take over the country...
would Nato and western allies support them,
bomb the ruling government,
throw the ruling governments ambassadors out to be replaced by unknown rebels etc?
OR will they brand them as TERRORISTS?
Something is seriously wrong here...
Russia has made the right decision, Russia has made the logical decision, and Russia has made the mral and ethical decision.