ISTANBUL: In a major setback for Muammar Qaddafi, a large bloc of the international community recognized Friday the opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) as the nation's only legitimate body.
The 40-nation International Contact Group on Libya, which also has representatives from the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the African Union, announced the decision during a meeting in Istanbul. Qaddafi now faces near complete isolation.
"We have agreed to recognize the NTC as the only legitimate voice of the Libyan people," Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the United States also joined more than 30 countries in extending diplomatic recognition to the Benghazi-based NTC.
"The United States views the Qaddafi regime as no longer having any legitimate authority in Libya," she said. "And so I am announcing today that, until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognize the NTC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya, and we will deal with it on that basis."
Speaking at the meeting, OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu reiterated that the OIC stands ready to contribute to international efforts in the post-peace-building phase in Libya and remains committed to help the Libyan people to achieve their legitimate aspirations for democracy, freedom and justice. The OIC is composed of 57 mostly Muslim countries and pushed for a cessation of hostilities in recent days.
"I wish to reiterate my appeal for the end of violence against civilians in Libya and the need for an urgent political solution to the Libyan crisis based on the recognition of the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy, justice, rule of law and political reforms," said Ihsanoglu. "We fully support the efforts of the UN secretary-general's special envoy Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib to engage the parties in discussions aimed at working out an acceptable transition to all Libyans."
Japanese Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Hisashi Tokunaga also announced his country's recognition of the NTC. "I would like to take this opportunity to declare that the government of Japan regards the NTC as the legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people," Tokunaga said in a statement.
High-level representatives from Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Morocco said in one voice that there is no room for Qaddafi and that he should go.
"All we want is to see a new and democratic Libya," said UAE Foreign Minister Abdallah bin Zayid Al-Nahyan.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called for a solution before Ramadan so that the situation in the North African country does not deteriorate.
"If a cease-fire cannot be maintained and air raids continue during Ramadan, that would only be a gift to Qaddafi," he told Turkish journalists. Ramadan begins on Aug. 1.
Davutoglu unveiled a comprehensive road map for a solution to the ongoing civil war.
"First a cease-fire should be declared between Qaddafi's forces in the capital, Tripoli, and the resistance forces based in Benghazi. That cease-fire should be monitored by the United Nations. Turkey is willing to take part in that monitoring force," said Davutoglu, noting that then the basic needs of the strife-torn cities, such as water, food and fuel, could be re-supplied under UN auspices.
"In the meantime, an exit strategy for Qaddafi to leave power but not necessarily the country should be sought by revising UN Resolution 1973 if necessary," Davutoglu said.
Turkey's proposal is to set up a restructuring commission for any post-Qaddafi Libya. According to the proposal, the core of the commission would consist of five people: Two from Tripoli who would be acceptable to Benghazi, two from Benghazi who would be acceptable to Tripoli and a fifth who would be named by those four who would set up the basis for a new constitution in Libya.
"One of the most interesting suggestions in Turkey's road map draft is to avoid acts of revenge after Qaddafi," said Turkish journalist Murat Yetkin. "Ankara thinks lessons should be drawn from the devastating de-Baathification process in Iraq, which is now seen as the main reason of the resistance to the new regime to be established in the country."
Italy's Frattini suggested the formation of a broad-based national unity government to chart a new course for freedom-seeking Libyans.
The Istanbul meeting was the most clear indication that all the world's major powers, except Russia, are firm on ousting Qaddafi from his last remaining bastion of Tripoli.
© Arab News 2011
