MFA Press and Information Department Comment in Relation to the Completion of NATO's Operation in Libya

02-11-2011

Pursuant to Russian-backed UN Security Council resolution 2016, the mandate to provide measures to protect the civilian population in Libya, including a no-fly zone imposed by UNSCR 1973, has ended as from November 1. Accordingly, NATO has decided to wrap up its multinational Operation United Defender.

Now the responsibility for the protection of civilians lies on the Libyan authorities, which must undertake efforts to achieve national reconciliation in the country, swiftly launch a comprehensive political process, guarantee the observance of human rights and avoid reprisals.

As to Operation United Defender, quite a few questions still remain to the North Atlantic Alliance, and some of its members that took part in this operation, on how in practice the relevant UN Security Council resolutions were being fulfilled. First and foremost, it's about casualties among the civilian population as a result of the air strikes, arms supplies in violation of the embargo, dispatching of instructors and Special Forces to support one of the opposing sides in the internal conflict. All of this demands thorough and unbiased analysis as well as a candid discussion to learn lessons for the future.