BELGIUM: NATO says any military action in Libya would have to be based on there being a demonstrable need and a clear mandate and with support in the region

Record ID: 643708

  • Title: BELGIUM: NATO says any military action in Libya would have to be based on there being a demonstrable need and a clear mandate and with support in the region
  • Date: 11th March 2011
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MARCH 10, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATO HEADQUARTERS ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER IGNAZIO LA RUSSA ARRIVING SPANISH DEFENCE MINISTER CARMEN CHACON PIQUERAS (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLISH DEFENCE MINISTER, BOGDAN KLICH, SAYING: ''It is necessary to have a mandate from the Security Council and without that mandate the euro-atlantic community will not do anything, shouldn't do anything but I hope that with this mandate we would be able to have at least limited no-fly zone on Libyan territory.'' KLICH LEAVING GERMAN DEFENCE STATE SECRETARY CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT ARRIVING SCHMIDT TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN DEFENCE STATE SECRETARY CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT SAYING: ''We would need to know when, where, with which goal and legitimacy we could help or not. And this is an exercise that will be discussed not only at NATO but also at a EU foreign ministers meeting and the EU summit tomorrow.''
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium, Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Reuters ID: LVAB897P4U0MFJ446ZGXECJSMJNF
  • Story Text: NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday (March 10) any NATO military action in Libya would have to be based on there being a demonstrable need and a clear mandate and with support in the region.
    EU and NATO ministers were meeting in Brussels to look into imposing a "no-fly" zone over Libya to stop the government using jets and helicopters against the outgunned rebels.
    Despite rebel appeals to take the skies away from Gaddafi's forces, no quick action was expected as NATO has made clear it needs wider, United Nations endorsement for such a move.
    Britain and France are seeking U.N. authority to impose a no-fly zone. However, analysts doubt Russia and China would provide the necessary backing and U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates has appeared cautious, warning that a no-fly zone would need air strikes to cripple Libyan air defences and expressing concern about more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East.
    Polish defence minister Bogdan Klich and German defence state secretary Christian Schmidt said any action would require a Security Council mandate and further discussions would be pursued on Friday.
    ''It is necessary to have a mandate from the Security Council and without that mandate the euro-atlantic community will not do anything, shouldn't do anything but I hope that with this mandate we would be able to have at least limited no-fly zone on Libyan territory,'' Klich said.
    ''We would need to know when, where, with which goal and legitimacy we could help or not. And this is a question that will be discussed not only at NATO but also at a EU foreign ministers meeting and the EU summit tomorrow,'' Schmidt said.
    Opening the meeting, Rasmussen said the Libyan regime was being watched very closely.
    NATO had stepped up surveillance in the Mediterranean and was increasing the operating capability of NATO's AWACS aircraft over Libya to 24 hours a day.
    Rasmussen said any NATO operation would need to respect three principles: ''firstly there has to be demonstrable need for NATO action, secondly there has to be a clear legal basis, and thirdly there has to be firm regional support".
    Military officers said a no-fly zone could be set up quickly.
    Rebel forces have appealed to Washington and its allies to impose a no-fly zone to deny Gaddafi's forces the advantage of using warplanes and prevent him moving troops by helicopter.
    A no-fly zone could also help protect civilians who have been caught in the fighting, with scores if not more people reported killed so far in cities like Zawiyah. A burgeoning humanitarian emergency could hasten a no-fly decision.
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