By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 14 -- After the UN Security Council relaxed its arms embargo on Libya, even as the spread of weapons from Libya continues to reverberate from Mali to Syria, UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant came out to take questions.
Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant what it has already posed, without yet response, to his new “#DigitalDiplomacy"(and as noted by another from way down in Chile, West Ham) twitter account: what the UK's position on the draft Isolation Law.” From the UK Mission's transcript:
Inner City Press: What does the UK think of the proposed Political Isolation Law in Libya and there’s been attacks on the media for reporting on it. Do you think it’s a good idea going forward to bar anyone that had a position in the Gaddafi government from future government service?
Mark Lyall Grant: Obviously that is an issue that we’re watching very closely. It is for the National General Congress to decide what legislation they adopt for the future political dispensation in Libya, but from our point of view, it is very important that this should be an inclusive process, and yes there should be accountability for past crimes, particularly those committed under the Gaddafi regime. But at the same time it is very important that all groups are included in the political dispensation of Libya, so it is fair to say that we do have some concerns about the Isolation Law, in as much of the text that we have seen of it.
Alright, then. Also at the Security Council on Thursday was Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. On Tuesday he was in DC for a private lunch “co-hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding.” The invitation said he “is credited as having played a key role in persuading French President Nicolas Sarkozy to support the anti-Gaddafi forces.”
Now Sarkozy is said to be offered a $500 million hedge fund to run, by Qatar's Sovereign Wealth Fund. One wag asks: is Sarko bullish on jihad? Watch this site.
