Brussels, 14/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 12 November, the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs officially opened the European Union's delegation to Libya, in Tripoli, “a symbol” of EU support. Catherine Ashton stressed that this ceremony “underlines the EU's commitment to our close relationship with the Libyan people, both during the political transition and in the long term”. “I say to the people of Libya: it is your country, it is your future, but we are here to support you and to help you in any way we can”, she added, going on to say that “democracy and liberty are built from the inside, not imported from outside”. In addition to a delegation on the ground, the EU has teams ready to be deployed to offer the support that is needed, she said.
On Monday 14 November, the foreign affairs ministers of the EU welcomed the inauguration of the delegation and recent developments in the country, from the declaration of Libya's liberation on 23 October to the appointment of Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib. They repeated their calls for an inclusive transition, paving the way for a state founded on the primacy of law and democratic principles, with respect for human rights. In Libya on Saturday, at the Women''s Forum, Ashton stressed that women have a “major role to play in shaping the future” of the country.
The Council pointed out that the EU is prepared to combine all its instruments to provide additional assistance and to work on lifting the restrictions on Libyan assets. Ashton had previously discussed these subjects on Saturday, during her meeting with the president of the National Transition Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil.
In its conclusions, the Council also stressed its “concerns” regarding the “proliferation of all weapons and related materials of all kinds and stores of chemical weapons in Libya” and highlighted the danger of their dissemination throughout the region. (CG/transl.fl)