NTC Senior Officials Will Visit Algiers When Algerian Authorities Recognize the “Blessed” Libyan Revolution, Abdul Jalil

Head of the National Transitional Council, Mustapha Abdul Jalil, has accepted to be interviewed by Echorouk, addressing for the first time an Algerian newspaper.

Mr Abdul Jalil’s protocols required Echorouk reporter in Tripoli to avoid asking some questions, given that Mr Abdul Jalil cannot answer on them without consulting senior officials of the NTC, forcing, thus, Echorouk reporter, to limit his interview. 

The evolution of the bilateral relations between Libya and Algeria was the first issue to be evoked. In this regard, the NTC leader said these bilateral relations “are framed within parameters of the same neighboring, same religion, same ethnic background, and the same border which has been unilaterally closed by Algerian authorities without consulting or notifying us,” stressing that “the Libyan people are aware that the Algerian people are standing with the revolution on the tyrant regime of Muammar Gaddafi.”

As for the reports about an imminent visit of NTC senior officials to Algeria, Mr Abdul Jalil indicated that “the contacts with the Algerian government have been established several times, mostly thanks to mediators who seek to bridge the gap between the two neighboring counties, regarding the attitude of Algeria vis-à-vis the revolution in Libya,” adding: “Yet, we are happy to send an official delegation to Algiers, but before that, we are waiting for Algerian authorities to recognize officially the blessed Libyan Revolution; for Algeria is lagging behind in this term, comparing with friendly and neighboring nations.

Concerning the “provocative” audio statement that Aisha Gaddafi, aired on Syria based Al-Rai satellite TV station, the Head of NTC said: “Well, at the beginning, we’ve understood the humanitarian ground that prompted the Algerian government to offer refuge to Aisha Gaddafi, her mother Safia and her two brothers Hannibal and Mohamed. But we’ve been astonished when we heard Aisha encouraging her father’s pro forces to kill the Libyan people! And yet, the Algerian authorities have stood stubborn without reprimanding Aisha or taking legal measures against such a provocative audio message aired from Algeria, which the Libyan people had not hesitated to help during her Revolution against the French occupation!”

As for Western concerns over the Islamist tendency dominating the NTC, and which could bring birth to an Islamist State in Libya, the NTC leader said: “Well, I’d say that 90 percent of Libyan people are moderate Muslims. Yet, there are small extremes on both sides! And Islam will be the main source of legislation in the new Libya, and nobody can dictate on us what should we do!”