Libya excluded from London conference

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Mar 29, IRNA -- Various ministers and representatives from over 40 countries and international organisations Tuesday were attending the London conference to create a political process for the future of Libya without Muammar Gaddafi.

But the official list was notable for the absence of any Libyan representatives, several EU countries, including Austria, Cyprus, Finland and Ireland, and the majority of UN Security Council members, including Russia and China.

There was also a shortage of Arab participation, with only Jordan, Morocco, Qatar and the UAE sending ministers and Kuwait, Lebanon and Tunisia as well as the Arab League being represented by ambassadors.

Although excluded, special envoy for Libya’s interim transitional national council (ITNC) Mahmoud Jabril held talks before the conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague and was also due to give a separate media conference.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was opening the conference, was also expected to meet Jabril. Cameron’s spokesman said that although members of the ITNC would not be present at the conference, their views would be reflected.

'We are not discussing a solution and how to impose it on the Libyan people. We are discussing how the international community can best support the process of transition,' the spokesman said.

The Foreign Office has said that the conference was to “demonstrate the international community’s unity of purpose, bringing together a broad grouping of countries committed to a better future for the people of Libya.”

Despite its absence, it said that the that the interim council were a “legitimate political partner and who alongside civil society leaders could help to begin a national political dialogue, leading to a representative process of transition, constitutional reform and preparation for free and fair elections.”

The first division on Libya emerged, when five members of the UN security council abstained in voting for the imposition of a no-fly zone and for military action to protect Libyan civilians.

Russia, among others, have subsequently criticised the use of firepower, led by the US, UK and France, as going beyond the terms of the UN resolution that authorised it.
Other security council members staying away from the conference, include Bosnia, Brazil, China, Columbia, Gabon, India, Nigeria and South Africa, while Lebanon is only being represented by an ambassador.