LOC23:23
20:23 GMT
By John Keating
PARIS, Sept 1 (KUNA) -- Participants at the "Friends of Libya" conference
vowed here Thursday to "immediately" work to free billions of dollars in
frozen Libyan assets to help finance the reconstruction and political
transition in that country.
The conference, which brought together 63 Heads of State and government,
ministers and officials from international organisations, gave a resounding
voice of support for the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) which is
leading the opposition in a bid to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Kuwait was represented at the talks by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and there were a number
of Arab leaders present, including Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the
Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani and the UAE Foreign Minister
Sheikh Abdallah bin Zayed Al-Nahayan.
Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Lebanon, Mauritania and Sudan were
also among Arab countries present at high level and the Arab League
Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi was also at the conference.
Most European countries were represented at Head of State or Government level
and the US sent Secretary-of-State Hillary Clinton.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, French President Nicolas
Sarkozy said that participants had agreed to "a unanimous request to unfreeze
Libyan assets and all the money that was embezzled" by the Gaddafi regime.
He said there would be steps taken "immediately" to unfreeze about USD 15
billion in assets. Several countries, including France, announced Thursday
they were moving to unfreeze billions of dollars in assets that were frozen by
the UN Security Council last March.
UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon declared here that the humanitarian
situation in Libya was now the top priority and he said that 860,000 people
had fled the country in the six months of conflict and must return as their
skills were needed.
The question now "is how to address the humanitarian challenges," the UN
chief said.
He called for generosity by the international community to help Libya in
the sectors of "justice, protection of human rights, policing, elections and
institution building.
Ban said that a UN mission was already on the ground in Libya and he was
sending a top official to oversee the situation there.
He added that it was agreed in Paris today that the UN is to lead the
reconstruction and transition campaign in Libya.
"I count on the...continuing leadership" of the NTC, he stated. "Time is of
the essence," and he said he would seek "prompt action" from the UN Security
Council.
Co-Sponsor of the conference, British Premier David Cameron said that the
NTC could count on its allies and that NATO military operations would continue
in Libya "as long as we are needed to protect lives."
He also said that crimes committed by the Gaddafi regime must not go
unpunished and "must be investigated and those guilty brought to justice."
He urged the NTC to set up "a Libyan-led, inclusive and democratic system"
in their country and he said there were "immediately impressive things taking
place in Libya and the Coalition was "on the brink of success."
NTC President Mustafa Abdel Jalil promised his Council would keep its
promises with respect to the political transition and reconciliation in his
country.
"The Libyan people is a people which keeps its promises," he said, vowing
to bring stability and peace...and reconciliation. (end)
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