Laaska News Sept. 8,2011
Garibov Konstantin Sep 7, 2011 AUDIO
Libyan rebels secure a checkpoint on the road between Tarhuna and Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli, Libya. Photo: EPA
The Libyan authorities and NATO seem to have started a competition in their search for Muammar Gaddafi. Rebels are scouring cities under their control, while the US has involved satellites and drone aircraft.
Opposition members appear to be slowly but steadily getting off the trail, with their information concerning the Colonel’s whereabouts being more than controversial. He is said to be hiding in either Sirte, or Sabha or Bani Walid – the strongholds still controlled by the previous regime. Some reports claim Gaddafi has left for Libya’s deserted southern areas, others say he is on his way to Burkina Faso via Niger in a column of armed vehicles. The Nigerian government, however, denied information about Gaddafi’s 100-strong convoy having entered the country. And Burkina Faso has changed its stand over the last 24 hours, saying that it won’t provide the Colonel with political asylum.
As for NATO forces, they are playing their own game. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney acknowledged that the US and its NATO allies are actively searching for Gaddafi but failed to mention how this fits into the UN Security Council’s mandate on a no-fly zone over Libya. Official spokesperson for the US State Department Victoria Nuland became the one to share confidential information with journalists. She said some of the Libyan regime’s senior officials entered Niger as part of the convoy but the US does not believe Gaddafi was among them. He is in Libya, safe and healthy, said Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim who turned out to have heard nothing about any military convoys that entered Niger.
Meanwhile, Russian president’s special envoy to Africa Mikhail Margelov believes the time has come to raise relations with Libya to the traditionally high level and send a new ambassador to that country.
This issue may be included on the agenda of the upcoming negotiations with NTC leaders in Moscow. The Libyans initiated this visit themselves, in order to discuss the future of Russian projects in their country. Russian interests in Libya are rather diversified, says political analyst and Oriental expert Stanislav Tarasov:
The overall value of contracts signed under Gaddafi exceeds $10 billion. These are agreements with LUKoil, Tatneft, Gasprom Neft, the Russian Railways company, as well as documents on military-technical cooperation and building infrastructure. Being Libya’s traditionally reliable partner, Russia intends to preserve and strengthen its interests in that country, which shapes the entire line of Moscow’s behavior there, says Stanislav Tarasov.
Experience acquired in Iraq shows that cooperation with Libya may start only after a new government is formed there. At present, there is no one to enter negotiations with Russian companies. Of particular importance is the stand taken by Italy’s ENI company which should have developed an oil field alongside Gasprom Neft, Stanislav Tarasov goes on to say:
“The Italian side said it will insist on the presence of its Russian partners. Part of Russia’s independent contracts will be most likely preserved as well, the expert says.”
The new authorities cannot but realize that relying on military and political support from the US and a number of EU countries for a long time is impossible. This is also clear for Libya’s friends in the Arab world, China and Latin American countries that have always maintained close ties with Tripoli. Therefore, the diversification of both political and economic contracts remains one of the key terms for internationally recognizing the National Transitional Council de facto, not just de jure.
VOR.
Laaska News.
www.laaska.wordpress.com
LAASKA NEWS AND ANALYSIS 
Russia-Libya: new ambassador, new contracts -VOR
Laaska News Sept. 8,2011
Garibov Konstantin Sep 7, 2011 AUDIO
Libyan rebels secure a checkpoint on the road between Tarhuna and Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli, Libya. Photo: EPA
The Libyan authorities and NATO seem to have started a competition in their search for Muammar Gaddafi. Rebels are scouring cities under their control, while the US has involved satellites and drone aircraft.
Opposition members appear to be slowly but steadily getting off the trail, with their information concerning the Colonel’s whereabouts being more than controversial. He is said to be hiding in either Sirte, or Sabha or Bani Walid – the strongholds still controlled by the previous regime. Some reports claim Gaddafi has left for Libya’s deserted southern areas, others say he is on his way to Burkina Faso via Niger in a column of armed vehicles. The Nigerian government, however, denied information about Gaddafi’s 100-strong convoy having entered the country. And Burkina Faso has changed its stand over the last 24 hours, saying that it won’t provide the Colonel with political asylum.
As for NATO forces, they are playing their own game. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney acknowledged that the US and its NATO allies are actively searching for Gaddafi but failed to mention how this fits into the UN Security Council’s mandate on a no-fly zone over Libya. Official spokesperson for the US State Department Victoria Nuland became the one to share confidential information with journalists. She said some of the Libyan regime’s senior officials entered Niger as part of the convoy but the US does not believe Gaddafi was among them. He is in Libya, safe and healthy, said Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim who turned out to have heard nothing about any military convoys that entered Niger.
Meanwhile, Russian president’s special envoy to Africa Mikhail Margelov believes the time has come to raise relations with Libya to the traditionally high level and send a new ambassador to that country.
This issue may be included on the agenda of the upcoming negotiations with NTC leaders in Moscow. The Libyans initiated this visit themselves, in order to discuss the future of Russian projects in their country. Russian interests in Libya are rather diversified, says political analyst and Oriental expert Stanislav Tarasov:
The overall value of contracts signed under Gaddafi exceeds $10 billion. These are agreements with LUKoil, Tatneft, Gasprom Neft, the Russian Railways company, as well as documents on military-technical cooperation and building infrastructure. Being Libya’s traditionally reliable partner, Russia intends to preserve and strengthen its interests in that country, which shapes the entire line of Moscow’s behavior there, says Stanislav Tarasov.
Experience acquired in Iraq shows that cooperation with Libya may start only after a new government is formed there. At present, there is no one to enter negotiations with Russian companies. Of particular importance is the stand taken by Italy’s ENI company which should have developed an oil field alongside Gasprom Neft, Stanislav Tarasov goes on to say:
“The Italian side said it will insist on the presence of its Russian partners. Part of Russia’s independent contracts will be most likely preserved as well, the expert says.”
The new authorities cannot but realize that relying on military and political support from the US and a number of EU countries for a long time is impossible. This is also clear for Libya’s friends in the Arab world, China and Latin American countries that have always maintained close ties with Tripoli. Therefore, the diversification of both political and economic contracts remains one of the key terms for internationally recognizing the National Transitional Council de facto, not just de jure.
VOR.
Laaska News.
www.laaska.wordpress.com
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