MOSCOW, September 1 (Itar-Tass) — The conference on Libya, which begins in Paris on Thursday, is called upon to determine the international community’s role in all processes evolving in that state, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said here.
The Minister pointed out, “This is not a session of the Contact Group, but is a meeting, the aim of which, as we were assured, would be to discuss specific parameters so that the United Nations Security Council could determine the role of the international community in further processes in Libya”.
“Since Russia has been always coming out in favor of ensuring that precisely the UN decides all issues concerning outside support and assistance to the Libyans in overcoming the crisis, we accepted the invitation (to participate in that conference),” Lavrov emphasized.
Earlier, when addressing MGIMO students and faculty members, Lavrov pointed out that “Only the Libyan people themselves may determine their future”, stressing that “Russia has never justified the former Libyan regime”. “Way back in May, RF President Dmitry Medvedev firmly stated that (Muammar) Gaddafi has got to quit,” the Russian Minister recalled.
Earlier in the day, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the RF recognizes the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya as current authority. “Russia takes note of the NTC-proclaimed reform programme which envisages the working out of a new Constitution, the holding of general elections and the formation of a government,” the Ministry statement underlined.