Moscow should build up relations with Libya’s new regime

MOSCOW, August 29 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s newspapers write about Moscow’s attitude to Libya’s new authorities and suppose that it is high time to establish relations with the new regime.

Libya’s new flag was raised over the Libyan embassy in Moscow as well as over other diplomatic missions in foreign countries. Diplomats demonstrate their loyalty to the Transitional National Council that came to power, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily wrote.

Muammar Gaddafi’s future remains unknown. It is not ruled out that he remains in the zone of tribes loyal to him or has left the country. But this has already been of no importance. In any case, it can be said with confidence that he would not return to power in any capacity.

It’s right time to establish relations with the new regime represented by the Transitional National Council that received diplomatic recognition in 57 countries. A representative of the Transitional National Council took part in a meeting of the League of Arab States in Cairo on weekend.

The newspaper reminds that Russia had contacts with the Transitional National Council searching a political settlement in Libya. It’s evident that time is right to take the next step – to announce diplomatic recognition of the Transitional National Council or to confirm that the change in Libya’s ruling system does not change the existing status of that country’s diplomatic recognition.

It is necessary to take measures to keep effective agreements and contracts that Russia and Libya concluded earlier. These deals cannot become void over political and personal changes in the ruling system.

Novaya Gazeta makes a supposition that the leaders of the Transitional National Council are probably bewildered by Moscow’s policy. On the one hand, Dmitry Medvedev’s position expressing support for Resolution 1973, which authorizes the use of force for the creation of a no-fly zone over Libya, seems to have been implemented. On the other hand, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a stern statement critical of the UN Resolution. Then, here comes the story with Russian ambassador to Libya Vladimir Chamov, who, in fact, called for supporting the Gaddafi regime.

The daily reported that leaders of the Transitional National Council had not invited Russia to participate in a meeting of the International Contact Group for Libya on September 1, although they promised to take into account Russia’s commercial interests in a new Libya.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich made it clear at a news conference in Moscow on August 25 that Moscow is still not ready to fully recognize the Transitional National Council.  Why, then, is he surprised by the fact that Russia had not been invited for a meeting of Libya’s friends, the newspaper asked.

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