Namibia ‘clarifies’ position on Libya

MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Veiccoh Nghiwete said Namibia’s position on Libya is guided by principles and not by a desire to acquire resources in that country.

‘We wish the people of Libya to remain masters of their own destiny and take effective control of all their resources,’ said Nghiwete. He said the Namibian government believes that the formation of an inclusive government in Libya is essential to end the conflict, consolidate peace and promote national reconciliation. ‘This will allow the people of Libya to start building their democratic institutions and reconstruct infrastructure,’ Nghiwete added. The ministry charged that ‘some Namibian media and individuals’ have decided to distort its position on Libya. Nghiwete said Namibia together with other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states are on record as having defended principles when Libya in recent years attempted to flout decisions of the AU Assembly.’This was a principled position that decisions taken by the AU Assembly must be respected and implemented,’ said Nghiwete. He said Namibia’s position on the recognition of the NTC was taken mindful of decisions of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the recommendations made by the AU high-level ad hoc committee on Libya that the PSC should meet on September 19 in New York at a ministerial level to discuss issues of Libya. On September 21, the AU PSC noted the admission of the NTC to the United Nations General Assembly on September 16. The African Union (AU) high-level ad hoc committee and South Africa on September 14 recognised the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the representatives of the Libyan people and resolved to work with the NTC and all other stakeholders towards an early establishment of an all-inclusive national unity government. Namibia has not directly recognised the NTC, but called for an all-inclusive government in Libya, a position Ngiwete said was maintained by the PSC. ‘This is to encourage the Libyan political stakeholders to build a new united, democratic and pluralistic Libya, in which human rights and fundamental freedoms and justice will be safeguarded and guaranteed,’ Nghiwete stressed. The PSC insisted that the NTC should respect the rights of minorities, including the rights of African migrant workers, and expressed concern over the continuing fighting in some parts of Libya, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Nghiwete said Namibia’s primary concern remains the need to respect the rules of procedures of the UN General Assembly. Rule 27 of the rules of procedures of the General Assembly stipulates that the ‘credentials shall be issued either by the Head of the State or Government or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs’. ‘In Libya there was neither Head of State nor Minister of Foreign Affairs to have signed the credentials as required by the rules of procedures,’ said Nghiwete, which promoted Namibia and other SADC countries to request a deferment of action of the UN resolution dealing with the credentials of representatives to the UN General Assembly 66th session.

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