Tripoli Post
July 11, 2011
French defence minister Gérard Longuet urging talks between rebels, Libyan government (Tripoli Post)
On the same day that Seif al-Islam Al Qathafi told Algerian newspaper El Khabar that the Libyan government was in talks about the Libya conflict with France, France's defence minister Gerard Longuet said it was time for Libya's rebels to negotiate with the Libyan leader Muammar Al Qathafi's government to try and find a solution to the crisis.
In comments signalling growing impatience with progress in the conflict, the French minister said that the rebels should not wait for Al Qathafi's defeat. However, he pointed out that Paris's objective was still that the Libyan leader must eventually leave power.
With the United States saying it stood firm in its belief that Al Qathafi must go, the messages from two leading members of the Western coalition opposing Al Qathafi indicated the strain the alliance is under after more than three months of air strikes that have cost billions of dollars and has thus far failed to produce the swift outcome its backers had expected.
Despite calls from several quarters and would-be mediators, the rebels have refused to hold talks with the regime, saying they were not prepared to do so as long as Al Qathafi remains in power. It is a stance that before now none of NATO's major powers has publicly challenged.
Minister Longuet, whose government has until now been among the most hawkish on Libya, said on French television station BFM TV, "We have ... asked them to speak to each other."
He went on to say: "The position of the TNC (rebel Transitional National Council) is very far from other positions. Now, there will be a need to sit around a table."
The TNC in Benghazi said this month it could not continue with talks now that Al Qathafi was wanted internationally, but Longuet appeared to leave the door open for Al Qathafi to remain in Libya.
Asked if it was possible to hold talks if Al Qathafi had not stepped down, Longuet said: "He will be in another room in his palace with another title."
"We (NATO) will stop the bombardment as soon...
In comments signalling growing impatience with progress in the conflict, the French minister said that the rebels should not wait for Al Qathafi's defeat. However, he pointed out that Paris's objective was still that the Libyan leader must eventually leave power.
With the United States saying it stood firm in its belief that Al Qathafi must go, the messages from two leading members of the Western coalition opposing Al Qathafi indicated the strain the alliance is under after more than three months of air strikes that have cost billions of dollars and has thus far failed to produce the swift outcome its backers had expected.
Despite calls from several quarters and would-be mediators, the rebels have refused to hold talks with the regime, saying they were not prepared to do so as long as Al Qathafi remains in power. It is a stance that before now none of NATO's major powers has publicly challenged.
Minister Longuet, whose government has until now been among the most hawkish on Libya, said on French television station BFM TV, "We have ... asked them to speak to each other."
He went on to say: "The position of the TNC (rebel Transitional National Council) is very far from other positions. Now, there will be a need to sit around a table."
The TNC in Benghazi said this month it could not continue with talks now that Al Qathafi was wanted internationally, but Longuet appeared to leave the door open for Al Qathafi to remain in Libya.
Asked if it was possible to hold talks if Al Qathafi had not stepped down, Longuet said: "He will be in another room in his palace with another title."
"We (NATO) will stop the bombardment as soon...
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