Moscow: Russia on Wednesday said the UN Security
Council must play a key role in Libya's peace talks and will
attend the international conference of 'Friends of Libya' to
be held in Paris.
Russian President's Special Africa Envoy Mikhail Margelov
will represent his country at the conference tomorrow, Russian
news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Margelov said the conference convened by France and
Britain is aimed at setting up grounds for "the new
international assistance for Libyan citizens" and restoration
of the country.
He also underscored that the UN Security Council must
play a key role in Libya's peace talks, the report said.
"It, however, does not prohibit our country from
participating in international forums on Libyan peace
restoration," Margelov said.
Last week French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the
member states of the Contact Group on Libya, including
participants in the NATO-led military operation,
representatives of the UN, the Arab League and the African
Union, as well as China, Russia, India and Brazil that
have expressed concerns over the operation, have been invited
to the Paris conference.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had last week denied
receiving any invitation for the conference.
However, Margelov, reiterated that Moscow was 'among the
first' to receive an invitation to attend 'Friends of Libya'
Conference.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 23:51