TURKEY: Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says Italy will endorse UN and EU sanctions on Libya

Record ID: 588940

  • Title: TURKEY: Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says Italy will endorse UN and EU sanctions on Libya
  • Date: 6th March 2011
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MARCH 05, 2011) (REUTERS) CAR CARRYING SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER CARL BILDT AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU ARRIVING BILDT AND DAVUTOGLU ENTERING BUILDING ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCO FRATTINI, BILDT AND DAVUTOGLU POSING FOR MEDIA VARIOUS OF DAVUTOGLU SHOWING BOSPHORUS TO VISITING MINISTERS BILDT, FRATTINI AND DAVUTOGLU WALKING TO PODIUMS AT JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCO FRATTINI, SAYING: "In Libya of course again, we have to listen to Libyan people. We have to avoid imposing solutions, rather to help this transitional process peacefully without violence, without a regime killing its own population. This is frankly speaking, something that we cannot accept." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCO FRATTINI, SAYING: "Obviously, we are ready to adhere to sanctions - as well as other kind of sanctions including economic ones. However the discussions are still going on about the creation of a no fly zone. It will be the decision of international organisations like Nato and, I think, the UN Security Council." NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER CARL BILDT, SAYING: "And that is the most significant of Arab countries, needless to say. It is only the beginning of a long and to a certain extent difficult process of transition to democracy and constitutional rule. We have all three been there and met the different political forces and we have agreed today on some concrete steps together in order to help with the building of a political groups, parties, and institutions, to prepare for the parliamentary elections that will come probably somewhat later, but that will be very important for the future." NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY FRATTINI, BILDT AND DAVUTOGLU LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4CAX4AV95TC2SUDNFMU1B0F14
  • Story Text: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Saturday (March 5) that Italy was ready to implement sanctions against Libya.
    Frattini, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bild met in Istanbul to discuss the situation in Libya, the imposition of sanctions, the creation of a no-fly zone and the transition to democracy in Egypt.
    On the subject of Libya, Frattini suggested that foreign powers should support a non-violent transition to power away from Muammar Gaddafi.
    The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday (March 1) unanimously suspended Libya's membership of the U.N. Human Rights Council. A U.N. Security Council resolution on Saturday called for a freeze on Gaddafi's assets and a travel ban, and refers his crackdown to the International Criminal Court.
    "In Libya of course again, we have to listen to Libyan people. We have to avoid imposing solutions, rather to help this transitional process peacefully without violence, without a regime killing its own population..." said Frattini.
    Frattini also stated that Italy is ready to impose sanctions against Libya and consider the creation of a no-fly zone. But these must be imposed with the approval of international organisation.
    "Obviously, we are ready to adhere to sanctions - as well as other kind of sanctions including economic ones. However the discussions are still going on about the creation of a no fly zone. It will be the decision of international organisations like Nato and, I think, the UN Security Council," Frattini told journalists.
    Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also said that the three ministers agreed on some concrete steps for organising political groups in Egypt ahead of the proposed elections.
    "And that is the most significant of Arab countries, needless to say. It U+0131s only the beginning of a long and to a certain extent difficult process of transition to democracy and constitutional rule. We have all three been there and met the different political forces and we have agreed today on some concrete steps together in order to help with the building of a political groups, parties, and institutions, to prepare for the parliamentary elections that will come probably somewhat later, but that will be very important for the future," said Bild.
    A referendum will be held in Egypt on March 19 to settle the constitutional amendments that will open up competition for the presidency, held by Mubarak for three decades.
    The constitutional reforms, a milestone on what Egyptians hope is their road to democracy, will stop any president from serving for more than two consecutive four-year terms, a major change that will serve as an example in a region of autocrats.
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