Italy abandons Gaddafi
The first European country to recognize the opposition as the new legitimate government of Libya.
AE - Italy on Monday recognized the National Transitional Council as Libya's sole interlocutor. "Italy has decided to recognize the council," said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini after a conversation with the insurgent leader, Ali al-Isawi. Only France and Qatar had previously recognized the council, which is based in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.
"We talked about the immediate dispatch of experts to Benghazi, experts from various fields: energy, transport, health and infrastructure. These people should be recognized by the council in Benghazi," said Frattini. The Italian minister also said he had spoken with his Greek counterpart about the visit yesterday of Muammar Gaddafi's envoy, the Libyan Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdelati Laabidi, to the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou.
"This morning, I had a telephone conversation with the Greek Foreign Minister, who explained to me what happened, and the message was: 'the regime respects the ceasefire.' Nothing was said about Gaddafi leaving," Frattini reported. "That is why it is not possible for us to accept the situation," he said, adding that "the proposals are not credible. It is not possible to accept them."
Following negotiations in Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said that Gaddafi's regime was "seeking a solution" to the conflict. Libyan rebels insisted today that Gaddafi's entire family leave the country before any truce. Reports circulated that his sons had put forward a proposal for a transition that would include democratic reforms.
The leader of the National Transitional Council said that succession by a son of Gaddafi was unacceptable. Isawi further stated that the council "will respect the legitimate rights of foreigners and foreign companies in Libya," including the Italian energy company ENI, the largest foreign oil company operating in the country.
Frattini also stated that the option of arming the Libyan opposition to fight forces loyal to Gaddafi should not be ruled out, but used only as a "last resort." The minister said that Italy will send planes and a hospital ship to evacuate wounded people from the country, including from Misrata.