Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow remains opposed to recognizing the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
Moscow’s reaction comes days after the United States joined several countries in declaring formal recognition of the transitional council in Benghazi.
The International Contact Group on Libya Friday declared that Gaddafi’s regime had lost its legitimacy to rule the country and was instead recognizing the TNC as the legitimate governing authority in the country pending the establishment of an interim authority.
Russia’s topmost diplomat Lavrov referred to the TNC as a party to the negotiating process, but objected to the isolation of the regime in Tripoli.
He claimed Russia was in contact with both parties to the conflict, urging them to negotiate a settlement on the basis of the African Union’s mediatory proposals.
Lavrov also ruled out the possibility of Russia offering sanctuary to Gaddafi should he decide to step down as the country’s national leader. However, the Libyan leader has repeatedly pointed out that he will not leave the country despite increasing isolation and the bombardment of Tripoli by NATO.
“If, as it has been recently stated at a meeting of the Contact Group on Libya in Istanbul, it is about recognizing the NTC as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people, then we do not share this position,” Lavrov said.
The National Transitional Council (also known as the Interim National Council or the Libyan National Council), is a political body formed to represent Libya by anti-Gaddafi forces in the wake a popular uprising against the regime.
Its formation was announced in the city of Benghazi on 27 February 2011 and its intended purpose is to act as the “political face of the revolution.”
On 5 March 2011, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the “sole representative of all Libya”. An interim government was formed by the council on 23 March 2011 and it has so far been officially recognised as the sole legitimate government of Libya by 28 countries.
In February mass demonstrations calling for an end to Gaddafi’s regime broke out but met with brutal force from Gaddafi forces.
Following the deaths of thousands of civilians allegedly killed by pro-Gaddafi forces the UN Security Council passed a resolution for the protection of civilians and sanctioned the use of airstrikes to restrain regime troops.
Source: Afrique Avenir
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Who elected the TNC as the democratic representatives of the nation of Libya?