FOCUS-LIBYA – Frattini: the flag of the new Libya now flies at the UN
ROME, Italy, September 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Making its “debut” before the international community, with the presence of the NTC at the United Nations, the new Libya is officially readmitted to the world scene. Confirming Italy’s commitment and support, Minister for Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini reiterated his country’s “special responsibility” for Libya’s future and reconstruction, citing the “added value” of a long tradition of relations. As the flag of the NTC was raised at the UN, replacing that of Gaddafi, the head of Italian diplomacy stressed: “I believed in this from the very first moment; it was our hope, it was our commitment. Gaddafi’s flag is gone because it represented violence, repression, while today the flag of freedom flies, and we must work together with the new Libya”.
Our deep and traditional understanding of the area and of the various components of Libyan society will bring added value to the political, social and institutional construction and consolidation of a new democratic Libya, fully responsible for its role in the Mediterranean and beyond”, Frattini asserted at a meeting of the “Friends of Libya”, where post-Gaddafi Libya was represented by NTC President Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who pointed out that Italy had been among the countries most committed to the success of the Libyan revolution from its start. Frattini reconfirmed Italy’s commitment to making substantial contributions to Libyan reconstruction, with projects ready to be launched (institution-building, security training, border control, reconstitution of healthcare, justice and public administration systems), and to supporting the country’s democratization, which is not yet certain to be a linear and effortless process. Italy is determined, however, to sustain it by continuing to assist the new Libyan authorities, but not without cautioning the impediment of “extremist infiltration”, precisely in the name of the revolution: “Infiltration by extremist groups into the newly formed institutions would crush the legitimate hopes of the Libyan revolution”, he stated.
SOURCE
Italy – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
