NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen addressed the alliance partners' defence ministers

At a meeting at NATO's Brussels headquarters on Wednesday for defence ministers of the partner countries that are contributing to Operation Unified Protector in Libya, the organisation's general secretary, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, intends to use the two-day meeting to push for broader participation in Libya by other organisation members.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen concluded that “everyone at the table agreed: we have made clear progress. We have prevented a massacre, we  have preserved innocent lives, and we have prepared the ground for a political  settlement”.

Earlier in the week, directing his comments at all the 28 members of the alliance Rasmussen had said: "Obviously some of those allies and partners carrying the heavy burden start to ask whether it would be possible to broaden the participation a bit.

"That is also the essence of our alliance: that allies that actually have the necessary assets at their disposal, also contribute those assets, based on the principle of solidarity."

At the meeting, all Ministers endorsed the decision to extend the operation for another 90 days, from the end of June. This, it was said, sends a clear signal that NATO will stay the course and will keep up the pressure for as long as it takes to bring this crisis to an early conclusion.

The NATO defence ministers strongly reaffirmed the goals laid out by Foreign Ministers in Berlin on April14, that the Libyan regime must cease attacks on civilians; verifiably withdraw all its forces to bases; and allow immediate, full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

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08 Jun. 2011
NATO and partners will stay the course on Libya

Today, NATO Defence Ministers met with the Defence Ministers of the partner countries that are contributing to Operation Unified Protector to protect civilians in Libya.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen concluded that “everyone at the table agreed: we have made clear progress. We have prevented a massacre, we have preserved innocent lives, and we have prepared the ground for a political settlement”.

In the meeting, all Ministers endorsed the decision to extend the operation for another 90 days, from the end of June. This sends a clear signal that NATO will stay the course and will keep up the pressure for as long as it takes to bring this crisis to an early conclusion. They strongly reaffirmed the goals laid out by Foreign Ministers in Berlin on 14 April that the Libyan regime must cease attacks on civilians; verifiably withdraw all its forces to bases; and allow immediate, full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.

Secondly, they stressed their continuing commitment to the operation, including by providing the necessary capabilities to continue, and conclude, the operation.

Thirdly, Ministers agreed that the time has come to plan for the day after the conflict. They encouraged other key organisations, including the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the African Union, to start planning for their efforts for an immediate and longer term post-conflict period.

“NATO stands ready to play a role, if requested and if necessary, in support of post-conflict efforts that should be initiated by the United Nations and the Contact Group on Libya”, the Secretary General said.

Mr Rasmussen also stressed that NATO does not envisage a leading role for the Alliance in a post-conflict Libya.

One of the alliance's most powerful members, Germany, is refusing to take part in the mission and that looked unlikely to change a the meeting, with Christian Schmidt, the country's secretary of state
saying: “We will not change our position concerning the military action. We will not participate.'

Sweden's government is reported by Al Jazeera announcing that it has reached a deal with opposition parties to extend the mission of Swedish jets taking part in Libya reconnaissance missions by three months when it expires on June 22.

Under the plan, five of the eight Swedish jets currently taking part in the operation will continue to carry out reconnaissance missions over Libya.

Meanwhile, Spain has officially recognised Libya's rebel National Transitional Council as the country's legitimate representative, Trinidad Jimenez, the Spanish foreign minister said during a visit to rebel-held eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

"I'm here today to confirm that the National Transitional Council is the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people," Jimenez told reporters in Brussels.

Liam Fox, the UK defence secretary, said the United Kingdom has been very forward-leading, very clear that it wants to see the Libyan people safe from the excesses of the Al Qathafi regime, therefore he wanted to see "increased urgency in some quarters" for the Libya campaign.

NATO jets continued to pound the Libyan capital, Tripoli, in daylight raids on Wednesday. Ten explosions shook Tripoli, with Wing Commander Mike Bracken at NATO's Libya operations headquarters in Naples, Italy, telling the Associated Press that there had been "increased tempo over recent days over Tripoli" but pointed out, that "Al Qathafi as an individual has not been a target and won't be a target".

NATO is not publicly releasing figures on how many nations are involved in the strikes on Libya, but it is thought to be about 17, with only eight, led by Britain and France, conducting air raids.

Meanwhile, Sky News has reported that at least 12 Libyan rebels have been killed in Misurata after thousands of the regime's troops advanced on the city and attacked it from three sides.

Quoting rebel spokesman Hassan al-Misrati, who spoke to the network from inside the city, he said that shelling was taking place from the east, west and south. He added: “They (Al Qathafi's forces) were trying to enter the city. “They are still outside, though," he added.

There was no immediate comment from Libyan government quarters.