FRANCE: NATO to take over Libya mission in next few days says French Defence Ministry

Record ID: 575202

  • Title: FRANCE: NATO to take over Libya mission in next few days says French Defence Ministry
  • Date: 29th March 2011
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 28, 2011) (REUTERS) FRENCH DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENERAL PHILIPPE PONTIES AND MILITARY SPOKESMAN COLONEL THIERRY BURKHARD ARRIVING FOR BRIEFING PONTIES SPEAKING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENERAL PHILIPPE PONTIES SAYING: "This resolution has been implemented by a coalition of states- African, European and North American states and this coalition needs an enforcing arm. This enforcing arm, so far was provided by the American command and in the next 48 or 72 hours, this enforcing arm will be NATO. The political control of the operation being provided by the contact group that is due to meet tomorrow in London." BRIEFING IN SESSION SCREEN SHOWING LIBYA MAP JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENERAL PHILIPPE PONTIES SAYING: "The only contacts that exist are contacts at a political level, with the Libyan National Council recognised by French authorities as a legitimate political authority. And once more, the 1973 (resolution) stipulates that there is no deployment of troops on the ground, so if co-ordination is to be made, it will be done at a political level only." VARIOUS OF GRAPHICS SHOWING LOCATIONS OF MILITARY OPERATION BRIEFING UNDERWAY
  • Embargoed: 13th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAEUSDDUVSSX87U9230GWOZ263C
  • Story Text: The French Defence Ministry said on Monday (March 28) in Paris that NATO would take control of military operations in Libya, from the North American command in the next 48 to 72 hours.
    NATO agreed on Sunday to take over the United Nations-mandated operations in Libya, putting the 28-nation alliance in charge of air strikes that have targeted Muammar Gaddafi's military infrastructure, as well as a no-fly zone and an arms embargo.
    "This (UN) resolution has been implemented by a coalition of states- African, European and North American states and this coalition needs an enforcing arm. This enforcing arm, so far was provided by the American command and in the next 48 or 72 hours, this enforcing arm will be NATO. The political control of the operation being provided by the contact group that is due to meet tomorrow in London," said French Defence Ministry spokesman Philippe Ponties.
    NATO chief spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said earlier on Monday that the alliance saw no military solution to the crisis and hoped for a political settlement.
    "The only contacts that exist are contacts at a political level, with the Libyan National Council recognised by French authorities as a legitimate political authority. And once more, the 1973 stipulates that there is no deployment of troops on the ground, so if co-ordination is to be made, it will be done at a political level only," said Ponties at the Defence Ministry briefing.
    Lungescu said a conference of 35 nations meeting in London on Tuesday was expected to set out the "broad political lines" for a peaceful solution in Libya. One possible precedent would be the multinational force established for Bosnia in the 1990s.
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