| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Libya's New Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Democracy, Good Governance |
| 2011-09-03 |
| [Tripoli Post] A day after the meeting of the 'Friends of Libya in Gay Paree agreed to hand over more than $15 billion to the rNational Transitional Council, and while the new leaders of Libya, on Friday were working out on how to spend the money, the NTC reaffirmed its commitment to democracy and good governance. Did they say that in English, French or Arabic? Following on that morale boosting decision, and the decision by the EU, a main trading partner, to rescind a range of sanctions, on Friday, the leaders of the NTC told financiers about their initial rebuilding plans. In the eastern city of Benghazi, the rebels' base during the conflict, an NTC official reportedly said that the release of funds by Western powers who are backing them with NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all.... air strikes meant the council now had to show Libyans it was capable of governing: "Before we had the excuse that we didn't have money when things went wrong," he said. "Now we don't have the excuse." The council is committed to a document that lays out a so-called "clear road map" to democracy, including a constitution to be drafted within eight months, a referendum and then full elections in 2013. Then at the end of about 20 months the Libyan people should have elected the leaders they want to lead their country. The document says the process of electing a President and parliament would begin once the NTC declares Libya "liberated" from the runaway leader Al Qadaffy ...who single-handedly turned a moderately prosperous kingdom into a dictator's fantasyland... . NTC leaders have said the conflict would not end before Al Qadaffy is found "dead or alive." So it remains uncertain when they might declare that freedom has been completely achieved. Meanwhile in Tripoli, the cleaning up of the Libyan capital has started. A group of municipal street sweepers took part in the clean up so life could return back to normal for the city dwellers. Rebel fighters began to remove some roadblocks on a main road along the shoreline and more food stores were open, although water supplies remain low and power remained erratic. A billboard put up by the NTC posted a public announcement: "For A United And Free Libya." Another welcome news was delivered by NTC education chief Soliman el-Sahli who told Rooters that despite some bombed-out classrooms, scarce transport and a now antiquated curriculum, Libya's schools would reopen on September 17. The NTC's reconstruction minister, Ahmad Jehani, and Aref Nayed, a member of the council's rebuilding team, met experts in post-conflict rebuilding from groups including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and USAID in Gay Paree Friday, with U.S. and French officials saying the meeting was mainly about listening to the NTC's needs. The rebel officials said Libya is counting on quickly restoring oil production to revive its economy and five international oil firms are already back and working to resume operations. "The issue of damage is not much and you can get procurement very fast. This is helped by the fact the producing wells are under contract to international firms, if they feel they can deploy their people," Jehani has been reported saying. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Any bets on Libyans remembering the Kadaffy era as the "golden age" ten years from now? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-09-03 04:14 |