Managua: The regime of Libya's Muammar
Gaddafi has named former Nicaraguan foreign minister Miguel D'Escoto as its representative to the United Nations, a presidential spokesman has said in Managua.
President Daniel Ortega's government said Libya made the
decision on the belief that Ali Triki was unable to obtain a
US visa to take his seat at the United Nations in New York.
D'Escoto "is authorized" to speak on behalf of Libya at
the United Nations, according to a letter sent to UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon by the Libyan authorities in Managua,
according to Ortega's wife and spokeswoman Rosario Murillo.
The Nicaraguan diplomat is an adviser to Ortega on
international affairs.
Ortega has defended Gaddafi during UN-backed coalition
military strikes aimed at protecting Libyan civilians.
Libya's UN representation became an issue when Libya's UN
envoy Mohammed Shalgham defected and condemned Gaddafi.
Gaddafi then replaced the envoy with Triki, a former
foreign minister, who has not yet presented his credentials
for recognition to the United Nations.
Ortega's government said Triki has been denied a visa by
the United States.
US State Department spokesman Mark Toner on March 25 was
asked about the issue and said "I don't have any information
about whether his visa has been issued or whether he's not
been issued a visa."
But Toner said there are no official interactions between
Washington and Tripoli.
"I think we were pretty clear that we suspended
operations with the Libyan embassy here in light of our
suspension of operations in Libya. But I don't have any
further details on the UN mission," he said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 14:27