UK Foreign Office Minister: Libya has no future with Gaddafi and he should go now

Relationships between Algeria and the UK have been reinforced for the last few years. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi unleashed hell onto his people and murdered civilians. UK Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt told Echorouk in an interview.

• The UK is taking part in the military operations conducted by the coalition on Libya. When do you expect these operations to end?
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• I cannot give you a time scale. The military action is being undertaken in accordance with the Security Council Resolution and support of many nations to protect the civilian population in Libya, and will continue until civilians are safe from attack.
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• Will the UK recognise the Transitional Temporary Council in Libya?
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• It is right that we engage with opposition leaders in Libya. The Interim National Council is valid and important interlocutor with whom we wish to build good relations. Their public statements show that they are committed to building a free Libya where human rights are respected.
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• We will not ‘recognise’ them as the government of Libya because the UK recognises states, rather than particular governments of countries.
• Some members of the Security Council consider that the military intervention has gone beyond the implementation of the no-fly zone over Libya.  Don’t you think that the international coalition has gone beyond the Security Council Resolution and that it is now interfering in Libya’s present and future through the conference held in the UK?
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• The UN resolution is clear. The action is being undertaken to protect the civilian population in Libya. In our view this is necessary, legal and right.
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• The Coalition is broad and strong, with Qatar and the UAE contributing planes to police the no fly zone. The London Conference brought together over 40 Foreign Ministers and international organisations, including the UN Secretary General, Secretary of State Clinton, and the PM of Qatar. Everyone agreed to support a process which would lead to a better future for the people of Libya.
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• Can you provide us with some information on the scale of the British participation in the coalition against Libya” i.e number of aircrafts and of military strikes?
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• The UK has contributed to the international coalition in a variety of ways. For example we have provided jet aircraft, tanker planes and submarines in conjunction with a wide range of international partners.
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• How do you assess Algeria’s position refusing foreign intervention in Libya?
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• That is a matter for the Algerian government – we understand that different countries have a wide range of views and we engage in full and frank discussion on these matters.
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• The UN Resolution is clear – any military action is taken to protect civilians, and there will be absolutely no foreign occupation or invasion in Libya.
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• What will be, in your opinion, the fate of Gueddafi amid the events taking place in Libya?
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• The UK believes that Gaddafi should go, and should go now.  Libya has no future with him at the helm.  He has unleashed hell onto his people.  He has murdered civilians.  He stands accused of dreadful crimes.  Now those crimes are a matter for the International Criminal Court and a matter for the United Nations but Gaddafi should go because that is the best chance the Libyan people have of a peaceful and democratic future.
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• Do you expect the spread of popular revolutions to other Arab countries such as Algeria and Morocco?
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• It is not right to speculate. What is important iin all countries around the world, as we have frequently made clear, is that they listen to the concerns of their people and respond to them. There are many different and legitimate ways to do this.
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• This is your second visit to Algeria, what are the issues you will discuss with the Algerian officials?
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• I am delighted to be coming to Algeria, for the second time. My Algerian counterpart, Mr Abdelkader Messahel will be hosting the 5^th Session of the UK Algeria Political Dialogue, so the main focus of my discussions in Algiers will be the bilateral relationship. In recent years, we have seen this relationship strengthen across the board. We now have this political dialogue firmly established as an annual event, and a sub-committee for discussion on counter terrorism issues as well as an annual dialogue on trade. In 2009, we signed a defence MoU, which further enhanced the growing relationship between our two countries. We have a long standing relationship on energy, which was formalised with the signing of a road-map last year. I hope to discuss how we can also take this forward. In addition to these areas, I also hope to be able to take forward our dialogue on migration issues and given events in the region, I am sure that there will be much to discuss, including on Libya and Western Sahara.