EU considers National Council of Libya as its only legitimate partner in Libya
Published:
March 16, 2011 at 11:12pm
Herman Van Rompuy
Agence France-Presse reports Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, as saying earlier today that the European Union considers the Libyan Provisional Transitional National Council in Benghazi as its only legitimate partner in Libya.
That’s one in the eye for all those who dissed France for ‘rushing’ to recognise it. I’m guessing this means the Maltese prime minister no longer needs to take calls from head office in Tripoli.
“Tell him I’m not in.”
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I wonder at this point whether the LPTNC will ask for the two Mirages and their pilots. The pilots would almost certainly be willing to as well.
If the EU considers them as representing Libya then legally (at least in the eyes of the EU) I think we would have both the right and the duty to send them but I have a feeling that it would much more complicated than I am imagining.
I wouldn’t want to be in the prime minister’s shoes if and when such a decision needs to be taken.
Then thank God that you are not in the prime minister’s shoes. The prime minister will act according to the UN and EU resolutions on Libya. As simple as that. Malta does not exist a in vacuum.
No chance. The thinking probably is that we keep hold of them so that when Gaddafi regains control of all Libya we can exchange them for all the Maltese-owned business that Gaddafi would have nationalised by then.
Nobody dissed France, except for a couple of louts who write in here sometimes.
Did you see how Saif addressed Sarkozy today? He called him a clown and told him to return money that was allegedly used to finance his electoral campaign.
Just in case you are referring to me as ‘one of the louts’ I wish to spell it out, in case you do not understand plain English.
I ‘dissed’ Sarkozy because he did not do his homework properly and his premature action actually contributed to unnecessary discussions and uncertainties leading to the delay of recognizing the Libyan Provisional Transitional National Council in Benghazi.
He should have discussed his intention beforehand giving valid reasons for proposing the recognition of the transitional council. He may have found a few who had the same idea and collectively recognized the council. The others would have fallen in line in a matter of hours or days.
Instead, and no doubt and with self-interest he wanted to be first. That was no ‘leadership’ – it was an uncalculated risk.
He would have been of greater service to Libya had he pushed for direct action against Gaddafi leaving the recognition of LPTNCB until Gaddafi was resolved.
If, heaven forbid, Gaddafi prevails, what value would the recognition of the LPTNCB be and which no doubt, would not exist any more?
Very frequently our hearts lead our brains.
It would have as much value as the Polish government in exile after World War II – a rallying point.
I hope you’re not thinking in terms of those accursed investimenti.
Guy Verhofstadt rubbished both Barroso and Van Rompuy in the European parliament today on the Libyan tragedy.
Barroso’s performance was the most pathetic, shifting all the blame on individual governments. He also indirectly admitted that his foreign minister was completely irrelevant in the circumstances.
Van Rompuy made a desperate face-saving effort to salvage the Union.
Too little, too late.
Just asking. Do you think Gaddafi funds the Labour Party?
It’s time to see that horrible green flag disappear from Notabile road in Attard.
@J Abela I think Gaddafi funds everybody. They are all out to grab the cash.
KMB for one must still be on the Libyan payroll, honoured as he is by the doomed regime.
[Daphne – KMB is famously uninterested in money.]
What is KMB interested in?
Ix-xoghol u l-haddiem. U c-CNI.
Van Rompey is an ineffectual, useless figure head, only agreed upon by the ’27’, since he has no power and they would not relinquish their individual veto power.
The EU and the ‘rest of the west’ continue to dither, with their thumbs up their bums, as Lybia burns.
Hillary goes to Egypt and Tunisia today and is snubbed by the real revolutionaries, No wonder, Obama is exhibiting Jimmy Carter ‘qualities’. No balls, but his voice is much lower. So disappointed with this guy. He, and the US have lost much respect. Watching an interview with Hillary at the moment–general thrust? She’s out and gone. Probably ashamed.
Purdie, Can you imagine how effectual it would have been if Tony Blair had been elected instead of Van Rompuy as President of the EU?
Daphne, where is that photo of Blair with Gaddafi?
And here’s the opposition:
Nigel Farage: EU has no legitimacy or consent to take military action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHBMLil4JbI
[Daphne – Nigel Farage! Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party? Friend of your wife’s, as I recall. Hadn’t she brought him over to Malta for a spot of foreign interference, to tell us why we shouldn’t vote Yes in the EU membership referendum? Or was that somebody else?]
I gather you’d like to invite him to one of your home-grown, rare-breed pork soirees for a bout of crust crackling.
Hadn’t you told us to select our sources? You certainly did. For a minute I thought you were going to include Sharon’s picture with Farage. Not even the UKIP trust Farage. Why should we?
Indeed, maryanne, the lack of trust runs so high they elected him leader again.
Nigel Farage? Here he is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GkHfUyq8Zo
Oh no! He called her Ellul BonNici. Kev’s noble ancestors must be in such a huff.
Thank you, Corinne, that was very kind of you. Never imagined you supported Sharon.
Kev, why is it that you never declare your conflicts of interest?
I think you know what my political beliefs are, ciccio2011 (well, you think you do, at least). You also know that I work in the so-called ‘eurosceptic’ field in the EP.
So tell me, ciccio2011, what conflict of interest are you talking about? And while you’re at it, since you’re all over the place here, have you declared your own? Are you a 20-year old successful barman, or a 60-year old failed professor?
Kev, Maryanne pointed clearly to your conflict of interest. And then Corinne Vella gave us the proof.
Why are you quoting a source when you clearly cannot be deemed to be independent of that source?
Kev, while you do your work as a euroseptic, do you get paid by the EU?
Geezus, ciccio2011, what world do you inhabit? Gej bil-conflict of interest!
I am well aware that Nigel is considered a joke by Europhiles like you and since his speech relates to the conference of presidents referred to above I thought you all needed a break from your war-room deliberations.
As for your question, let me s p e l l i t o u t for you:
1. The European Parliament is where the various representatives of the peoples of the EU sit in order to approve or block EU legislation prepared by bureaucrats in the Commission and campaign over new EU treaties that shape the EU’s political structure.
2. So-called eurosceptics have a vote too, so they vote for eurosceptic MEPs to represent them.
3. Once elected, eurosceptic MEPs form eurosceptic political groups that are funded by the EP just like the Europhile groups, only less since their numbers are higher.
4. These groups employ eurosceptics to work for them in the political field (as opposed to the administrative).
So which part of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d e m o c r a c y do you not understand? Where is the conflict of interest? Where is the hypocrisy? What are you on about?
Madonna, ciccio, biex ma tafx id-differenza bejn li tahdem mal-Kummissjoni u li tahdem fil-Parlament Ewropew ma’ grupp ewroxettiku li jirrapprezenta lil votanti ewroxettici, mela allura anqas biss ghandek idea ta’ kif tahdem id-‘demokrazija’ Ewropea.
Tal-biki!
U dan iridha li jifhem ukoll!
Kev, for a euroseptic, you really have a weak sense of humour, if you have one at all.
Now be careful, it was you who mentioned the European Commission. And it was you who assumed that I knew what you were doing in Brussels (or wherever, in case you now tell me that you are in Strasbourg).
My, my what a mess.
So the EU and the West generally has taken sides (rightly so).
But, it does nothing to support that side.
Said preference is quite possibly not going to exist for much longer, certainly because of the West’s lack of support.
Where does that leave the EU and the West?
@J.Abela – if Gaddafi was funding somebody in Malta one should start wondering what the Tax Compliance Unit, the VAT Department and the Inland Revenue Department were doing during that time.
With all due respect to Van Rompuy he’ s about as influential as some mayor in a backwater. I’m sure Gaddafi is having fits of terror at this declaration.