United Nations: Libya`s Gaddafi regime has
asked the UNSC to suspend sanctions imposed on it over the
brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, as it sacked
two of its diplomats at the world body who had renounced its
leadership and appointed an ex-foreign minister as its new
envoy.
The Libyan government sent a letter to the United
Nations, informing it that it had sacked its top two diplomats
to the world body -- Ambassador Mohamed Shalgham and Deputy
Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, who had publicly defected after
people revolted against Muammar Gaddafi.
In another letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
Gaddafi said that his regime wished to have veteran Libyan
diplomat Ali Abdussalam Treki, a former foreign minister, as
its new Permanent Representative to the UN, who is expected to
present his credentials to the world body chief soon.
"When any country sends a letter naming the permanent
representative, that person is the person who will be
recognised," UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told journalists
last evening.
Treki served as the President of the UN General Assembly
during its previous session when Gaddafi gave a long rambling
speech at the annual meeting of the body in September last
year.
When asked about Treki `s current location, Nesirky
said, "No idea."
In Washington, State Department spokesman P J Crowley was
asked whether the US would issue Treki a visa to come to the
country.
"We have official responsibilities in supporting the
United Nations," Crowley said. "There are agreements that
guide that support."
But the first step in this process is for Libya to
authentically and authoritatively declare who their
representatives are in this country, he said.
Meanwhile, the Gaddafi regime also asked the UN Security
Council to suspend the sanctions against Libya which were
slapped a week ago, claiming that "no opposition has been
raised to peaceful, unarmed demonstrators".
Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Mohammad Kusa, in a letter
addressed to Chinese ambassador Li Baodong whose country
currently holds the monthly rotating presidency of UNSC, said
his government "regrets" the 15-member Council`s unanimous
step to impose an arms embargo against the country, apart from
an asset and travel ban on Gaddafi, his kin and top aides.
The Libyan government was "taken aback" by the sanctions
and sought suspension of the sanctions "until such time as the
truth is established," media reports said.
Responding to whether the US still considered Gaddafi the
ruler of Libya, Crowley said, "He is responsible for Libya
still."
UN spokesperson Nesirky said that the world body was
"studying" the two letters sent by Gaddafi.
Shalgham was the diplomat who spoke against Gaddafi at
the UN Security Council session, which adopted the resolution
imposing sanctions against the Libyan ruler last week.
When he broke into tears after the meeting, the envoy
was embraced by other diplomats, including Ban.
"It`s complicated," the UN spokesperson said. "It is not
a normal set of circumstances by any means I am not saying
it is unprecedented but it`s certainly very unusual."
"But the bottom line is that a sovereign State that is a
member state of the United Nations has the right both to name
and to revoke their Permanent Representative or Deputy
Permanent Representative," he said. "And that is a fact."
PTI
