France Becomes First Country to Recognize Libyan Rebels (& will exchange ambassadors with them soon)

[Turborama]

Source: NYT

By ALAN COWELL and STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: March 10, 2011

PARIS — Moving ahead of its allies, France said on Thursday that it would become the first country to recognize Libya’s rebel leadership in the eastern city of Benghazi and would soon exchange ambassadors with the insurgents.

The move was a victory for the Libyan National Council in its quest for recognition and a setback for Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi who has been seeking whatever international support he can as NATO members debate the possible imposition of a no-fly zone.

The French announcement came as loyalist forces in Libya claimed new successes against the rebels west of the capital in the town of Zawiyah, while, to the east, anti-Qaddafi forces said they were counter-attacking near the key oil town of Ras Lanuf.

President Nicolas Sarkozy met in Paris on Thursday with two representatives of the Libyan National Council, set up as the uprising in Libya erupted in February. Soon afterward, a French announcement said France recognized the council as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/world/europe/11france.html?_r=1

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Report just now on AJE that France is going to build an embassy in Benghazi.

There's been a http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4762046">diplomatic battle over the past day or so and it looks like Gaddafi and his henchmen have lost their last minute attempt to retain their legal legitimacy.

[johnroshan]

1. France... They understand revolutions. n/t.

[pampango]

2. AJ: Paris becomes first major European power to recognise National Council as country's legitimate

representative.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/03/2011310101413705407.html


France has become the first major European power to recognise Libya's opposition National Council as the country's legitimate representative. The move, which will see an ambassador sent to the rebel-held town of Benghazi in Libya's east, was announced during a meeting between envoys from the council and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, in Paris on Thursday.

"France has recognised the national transition council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," Ali al-Issawi, an envoy from the council said after the talks. The French presidency also issued a similar statement.

Al-Issawi added that the council would "open a diplomatic mission, that is our own embassy in Paris, and an ambassador from France will be sent to Benghazi". "This ambassador will be in Benghazi for a transition period before returning to Tripoli."

Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, has also urged partners in the European Union to follow suit and engage with Libyan opposition leaders. Speaking after talks with Guido Westerwelle, his German counterpart, Juppe said: "We are on the same track to say Colonel Gaddafi is discredited, he must go, we must engage dialogue with the new Libyan representatives."

[achtung_circus]

3. Felicitations, France

Now they may, at the request of the recognized government of the country provide air support against the Gaddafi forces.

Of course, France has a history of doing that, witness the Libya-Chad war.

[femrap]

4. Thank you, France.....

The US just likes to sit on its ass because doing something might create "TOO MUCH DRAMA."

[pinboy3niner]

6. "THANKS FRANCE"

From Libya Live Blog - March 10:

9:23pm < (2:23 PM EST) >

This image posted online purports to show a sign erected by the Libyan anti-Gaddafi opposition in Benghazi, following France's diplomatic recognition of the national transitional council based in the city...





http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-10-0

[yodermon]

5. Awesome. If the rest of the world follows suit the rebels become the government

and quadaffi becomes an isolated madman.

[Exultant Democracy]

7. Good for France, but we must remeber they owe the Libyans.