International recognition of the National Transitional Council
Encyclopedia
International recognition of the National Transitional Council
of Libya
is general but not absolute.
Currently, 101 United Nations members have announced they recognise the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and some of them have indicated that they are recognising the NTC as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people, severing diplomatic relations with Gaddafi's government in the process. Additionally, four non-UN members, Kosovo
, Palestine
, the Republic of China (Taiwan)
, and Vatican City
, have also granted recognition. The European Union
and several individual countries, such as Switzerland
, have established a diplomatic presence in Benghazi
, the former de facto headquarters of the council and the continuing location for many of its offices. NTC officials have also met with representatives of Iceland
and Mauritania
, among other states, though these states are not known to have established permanent diplomatic relations (informal or formal) with the NTC.
The United Nations General Assembly
, with 114 member states in favor to 17 opposed, voted on 16 September 2011 to recognise the NTC as holding Libya's seat at the United Nations. On 20 September 2011, the African Union
officially recognised the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of Libya.
issued a joint statement that they consider the council to be Libya's "legitimate authority".
The number of countries recognising the NTC has increased rapidly since its fighters' entry into Tripoli
on 21 August. Prior to the start of the battle, 35 UN member states had granted recognition. After the United Nations General Assembly
voted to recognise the NTC's designated representative, acknowledging the council as Libya's governing authority, several countries that had previously opposed international recognition of the NTC reversed themselves by recognising it.
The NTC has been recognized by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council
, though the recognitions of Russia
and the People's Republic of China
followed anti-Gaddafi fighters' takeover of Tripoli, as well as all European Union
member states. All of the G4 nations
except Brazil
have also recognised the NTC. All NATO members except Iceland
have formally recognised the council. However, both Brazil and Iceland voted in favour of the NTC at the UN.
Most of the SADC
members, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea (AU
chair at the time of voting) adopted statements about "all-inclusive government", unsuccessfully proposed to postpone the UNGA vote and subsequently voted against the NTC.
lowered the green flag and raised the tricolour adopted by the NTC.
issued a joint statement rebutting claims that 556 Polisario mercenaries were arrested in Libya, blaming the report on Moroccan
propaganda. The statement asked "the new Libyan authorities, represented by the Transitional National Council", to immediately disavow the claims.
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
is general but not absolute.
Currently, 101 United Nations members have announced they recognise the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and some of them have indicated that they are recognising the NTC as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people, severing diplomatic relations with Gaddafi's government in the process. Additionally, four non-UN members, Kosovo
Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
, Palestine
State of Palestine
Palestine , officially declared as the State of Palestine , is a state that was proclaimed in exile in Algiers on 15 November 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization's National Council adopted the unilateral Palestinian Declaration of Independence...
, the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, and Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, have also granted recognition. The European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and several individual countries, such as Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, have established a diplomatic presence in Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, the former de facto headquarters of the council and the continuing location for many of its offices. NTC officials have also met with representatives of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
, among other states, though these states are not known to have established permanent diplomatic relations (informal or formal) with the NTC.
The United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, with 114 member states in favor to 17 opposed, voted on 16 September 2011 to recognise the NTC as holding Libya's seat at the United Nations. On 20 September 2011, the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
officially recognised the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of Libya.
International standing
The council has stated that it would like to be recognised by the international community. The Chairman of the Council told Al Jazeera that "there are official contacts with European and Arab [countries]".Recognition
As of 25 November 2011, 101 UN member states and four other countries have stated they recognise the National Transitional Council as the sole legitimate representative body of Libya. On 15 July, many of these countries constituting the Libya Contact GroupLibya Contact Group
The Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in...
issued a joint statement that they consider the council to be Libya's "legitimate authority".
The number of countries recognising the NTC has increased rapidly since its fighters' entry into Tripoli
Battle of Tripoli (2011)
The Battle of Tripoli was a military confrontation in Tripoli, Libya, between loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi, the longtime leader of Libya, and the National Transitional Council, which was attempting to overthrow Gaddafi and take control of the capital...
on 21 August. Prior to the start of the battle, 35 UN member states had granted recognition. After the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
voted to recognise the NTC's designated representative, acknowledging the council as Libya's governing authority, several countries that had previously opposed international recognition of the NTC reversed themselves by recognising it.
The NTC has been recognized by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
, though the recognitions of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
followed anti-Gaddafi fighters' takeover of Tripoli, as well as all European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
member states. All of the G4 nations
G4 nations
The G4 is an alliance among Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan for the purpose of supporting each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. Unlike the G8 , where the common denominator is the economy and long-term political motives, the G4's primary aim is the...
except Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
have also recognised the NTC. All NATO members except Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
have formally recognised the council. However, both Brazil and Iceland voted in favour of the NTC at the UN.
| Rank | Entity | Date/Status of recognition Diplomatic recognition Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state... |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Early Modern France |
Recognised on 10 March 2011 | On 5 March 2011, French foreign ministry spokesperson Bernard Valero stated France's support for the council saying that France "pledges support for the principles that motivate it and the goals it has set itself". French foreign minister Alain Juppé Alain Juppé Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011... referred to Gaddafi's actions as "criminal folly". An Élysée source announced that France plans to send an ambassador Ambassador An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization.... to Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... . On 29 March, A French official told AFP that Antoine Sivan, a French diplomat, is on his way to Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... to represent France. Alain Juppé issued a statement on 7 June 2011 stating that the National Transitional Council is the "sole repository of governmental authority, in France’s relations with the Libyan state". On 29 August France reopened its embassy in Libya. |
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| 2 |  Qatar |
Recognised on 28 March 2011 | The Qatari government and the National Transitional Council concluded a deal on 27 March 2011 for the Gulf state to market oil exports from the territory administered by the council, and Qatar recognised the council as Libya's sole legitimate representative the next day. Qatar's recognition of the council received vocal support from the Gulf Cooperation Council. | |
| 3 |  Maldives |
Recognised on 3 April 2011 | On 3 April 2011, the President's Office of Maldives released a press statement stating that the Maldives Maldives The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and... has officially decided to recognise the National Transitional Council National Transitional Council The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,... as the sole legitimate representative body of the Libyan people. “The Maldives will always support people who stand up against human rights violations,” said President Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed Mohamed Nasheed is a Maldivian politician. He is the current President of the Maldives. He is the founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party and was its presidential candidate in the October 2008 presidential election, defeating long-time President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in a second round of voting... . “The Libyan National Transition Council has become the sole legitimate representative of Libya and its people,” the President added. President Mohamed Nasheed has pledged the Maldives’ support to the NTC in a letter, repeating recognition as the “sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.” |
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| 4 |  Italy |
Recognised on 4 April 2011 | On 28 February 2011, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said at that time that "only Italy has contacts with the new Libyan National Council National Transitional Council The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,... ". Italian government has supported the UN resolution and has stated their willingness to support and participate on international military intervention. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini stated that Italy has decided to recognise the National Transitional Council in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi as its "only legitimate interlocutor" in Libya. On 1 September Italy has reopened its embassy. |
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| 5 |  Kuwait |
Recognised on 13 April 2011 | Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad al-Sabah said during the meeting of a contact group in Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... that Kuwait has taken steps to support the Libyan people and the National Transitional Council that are "tantamount to accepting its legitimacy". On 4 April, Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti foreign minister, told Reuters that formal recognition of the Libyan opposition council is due "in a few days". The Voice of Russia Voice of Russia Voice of Russia is the Russian government's international radio broadcasting service owned by the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company. Its predecessor Radio Moscow was the official international broadcasting station of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.-Early years:Radio Moscow... reported on 22 April that Sabah had announced Kuwait's recognition of the council on 13 April. On 22 August, Kuwait foreign minister repeated the recognition and support of Kuwait government for NTC. The same day Libyan ambassador in Kuwait recognised NTC. |
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| 6 |  The Gambia |
Recognised on 22 April 2011 | The West Africa West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:... n state of Gambia said it recognised the National Transitional Council as the only legitimate body representing Libyan interests. The Gambia also expelled Tripoli Tripoli Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three... 's diplomats. |
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| 7 |  Jordan |
Recognised on 24 May 2011 | The government said it would soon dispatch a permanent diplomatic envoy to Benghazi, according to Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on 24 May 2011, who announced the recognition this day. The Jordanian government announced recognition of the TNC "as the legitimate government" on the 22 August. | |
| 8 |  Senegal |
Recognised on 28 May 2011 | Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Abdoulaye Wade Abdoulaye Wade is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000. He is also the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Democratic Party and has led the party since it was founded in 1974... declared that his country officially recognises the NTC as the legitimate opposition of Libya on 20 May. He also declared that the NTC should lead the transition of power. Eight days later, after meeting with top NTC officials, he declared the body was recognised as the "legitimate representative of the Libyan people". |
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| 9 |  Spain |
Recognised on 8 June 2011 | Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez Trinidad Jiménez Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician and is currently Spain's Foreign Affairs Minister.... announced on 13 April that Spain would send a permanent diplomatic mission to Benghazi, headed by José Riera, in two week's time. Its purpose will be to "formalize Spanish relations with the LNC and to conduct institutional meetings with its members". A rebel spokesman mistakenly said Spain had recognised the council on 5 May 2011, which the Spanish government denied. Spain formally recognised the council a little more than a month later as "the only legitimate representative of Libya", according to press reports. |
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| 10 |  Australia |
Recognised on 9 June 2011 | Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd Kevin Rudd Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010... described the council as the "legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people" and indicated that Australia's grant of diplomatic recognition was in line with that granted by countries like France, Qatar, and the United Kingdom. |
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| 11 |  United Arab Emirates |
Recognised on 12 June 2011 | Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement on 12 June that "There is no legitimacy in Libya today but of the TNC". | |
| 12 |  Germany |
Recognised on 13 June 2011 | Vice-chairman of the NTC Abdel Hafiz Ghoga said during a visit to Benghazi of Germany's foreign minister Guido Westerwelle that "He said clearly ... that the national council is the legitimate representation of the Libyan people". On 2 September at the Paris Conference Friends of Libya German Chancellor Angela Merkel Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a... "have invited representatives of the National Transitional Council to Germany," and announced that the German Embassy in Tripoli would reopen soon, what happened 27 September 2011. |
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| 13 |  Canada |
Recognised on 14 June 2011 | The government of Canada announced that they have recognised the National Transitional Council as "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people." On 12 September it reopened its embassy in Tripoli. | |
| 14 |  Panama |
Recognised on 14 June 2011 | Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli Ricardo Martinelli Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Berrocal is a Panamanian politician and businessman who was elected the 49th President of Panama in 2009. He is a Panamanian of Italian descent from his father's side.- Early life :... recognised the National Transitional Council as "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people." |
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| 15 |  Austria |
Recognised on 18 June 2011 | Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger Michael Spindelegger Michael Spindelegger is an Austrian lawyer and politician. He is the current Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Austria in the cabinet of Werner Faymann. Since 2011, Spindelegger is the current leader of the Austrian People's Party .- Early and personal life :Spindelegger was born in Mödling,... , who also holds the portfolio of the Foreign Ministry, said he would travel to Benghazi on 19 June to meet with the council. The day before Spindelegger's scheduled departure, Vice-Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg stated that Austria will officially recognise the NTC as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people, but Spindelegger would not be able to make his trip as planned due to security concerns. |
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| 16 |  Latvia |
Recognised on 20 June 2011 | During a visit to Latvia of NTC member Abdurrahman Shalgam the Political Director of Latvia, Razāns, announced that "Latvia recognises the Transitional National Council of Libya as the political interlocutor representing the Libyan people during this interim period." | |
| 17 |  Lithuania |
Recognised on 20 June 2011 | On 20 June in Vilnius Vilnius Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County... , Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė hosted the representatives of NTC Shalgam Abdul Rahman and Hafed Gaddur. Vice-minister said that "Lithuania is considering the National Council as the political interlocutor during this interim period". |
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| 18 |  Denmark |
Recognised on 22 June 2011 | On 19 April 2011, the The Libyan Observatory for Democracy and Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation and umbrella organisation for the National Transitional Council opened an office in Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... . On 5 May, Danish government spokesperson Jean Ellermann Kingombe said Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... hasn't taken that step of formal recognition, but considers the council "a relevant partner for dialogue". Later, following a media offensive by Gaddafi against Denmark, the Libyan consul general to Denmark, Denmark broke what was left of its relations with Gaddafi and expelled Gaddafi's diplomat. On 22 June, during a visit to Benghazi, Foreign Minister Lene Espersen announced that that, "In the current transition period Denmark regards the TNC as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people". On 31 August, ahead of a meeting of the Libya Contact Group Libya Contact Group The Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in... , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the Danish government views the NTC as "Libya's legitimate government authority". |
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| 19 |  Cape Verde |
Recognised on 26 June 2011 | The Libyan ambassador to Cape Verde resigned in April. On 26 June, the Cape Verdean government called the NTC "the legitimate interlocutor" for Praia Praia Praia , is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago island in the Sotavento Islands group. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation’s four international airports... during the civil war. It reiterated its recognition on 26 August in a full press release and expressed its desire to see "peaceful political action to set up a transitional government to hold free and fair elections". On 1 September the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs José Luis Rocha José Luis Rocha José Luis Rocha represented México at the 1984 Olympic Games in Diving. Rocha was born in México City. He attended Auburn University where he was a member of the Swimming and Diving Teams from 1986 to 1989... said that that his country would resume cooperation with Libya when it establish an elected, legitimate government in the capital. |
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| 20 |  Kingdom of Bulgaria |
Recognised on 28 June 2011 | Initially, Bulgaria was one of the few NATO countries to explicitly refuse to recognise the NTC, but then made a U-Turn in late June. At first, Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov Nikolay Mladenov Nickolay Evtimov Mladenov is a Bulgarian politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov since 2010. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009 and was Minister of Defense from 27 July 2009 to 27 January... said his country will not recognise the National Transitional Council as a legitimate government, stating that such an action would be against Bulgaria's long-term interests and the safety of its citizens in Libya. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Boyko Borisov Boyko Metodiev Borisov is a Bulgarian politician who has been Prime Minister of Bulgaria since July 2009. Previously he was Mayor of Sofia from 8 November 2005 until his election as Prime Minister.... has confirmed this position, pointing out that representatives of the NTC are linked to the imprisonment and torture of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor (see HIV trial in Libya HIV trial in Libya The HIV trial in Libya concerns the trials, appeals and eventual release of six foreign medical workers charged with conspiring to deliberately infect over 400 children with HIV in 1998, causing an epidemic at El-Fatih Children's Hospital in Benghazi, Libya.The defendants were a Palestinian... ). As of 31 March, Bulgaria remained the only EU member with a functioning embassy in the official capital Tripoli Tripoli Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three... ; however, following attacks on other embassies in Tripoli, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that its embassy was evacuated to Djerba Djerba Djerba , also transliterated as Jerba or Jarbah, is, at 514 km², the largest island of North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabes, off the coast of Tunisia.-Description:... in neighbouring Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area... on 1 May 2011. Vesela Cherneva, the MFA spokeperson, said the move was temporary and the embassy would return once circumstances allowed it. On 28 June, the foreign ministry announced their recognition of the council as the legitimate representative of Libya upon its visit to Benghazi as a joint statement with Croatia. Despite their earlier statements, Foreign Minister Mladenov said that "Brutally assaulting his own people, Colonel Gaddafi has irreversibly lost all claims to legitimacy" and furthermore (in contrast to Bulgaria's earlier wariness toward the no-fly zone) "As Nato allies, Bulgaria and Croatia support irrefutably the international coalition and its mission in Libya." On early night 22 August some unidentified persons have looted the Bulgarian embassy in Tripoli. On 2 September Bulgarian police stormed the Libyan embassy and forced out diplomats of Gaddafi's regime after a new ambassador appointed by NTC arrived. |
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| 21 |  Independent State of Croatia |
Recognised on 28 June 2011 | The foreign ministry announced their recognition of the council as the sole government of Libya upon its visit to Benghazi, in a joint statement (shown above) with the Bulgarian representative. | |
| 22 |  Turkey |
Recognised on 3 July 2011 | Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Ahmet Davutoglu Professor Ahmet Davutoğlu is a Turkish political scientist, an academic and an ambassador. On May 1, 2009, he was named Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey after being the chief advisor to the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey.-Life and career:... recognised the council as a representative of the Libyan people during a visit to Ankara Ankara Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million.... on 23 May 2011 by its chairman, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, although it still maintained its relations with Gaddafi at that time. While in Benghazi on 3 July, Davutoglu announced that Turkey considers the council to be "the legitimate representative of the Libyan people", and that it would cut its ties with Gaddafi's government. Turkey also "reassigned" its ambassador to Libya, who formerly served as Turkey's top diplomat in Tripoli, the same weekend. He also pledged $200 million in aid to the rebels. On 1 August, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Turkey had "not broken off state-to-state relations with the Tripoli administration yet" and was continuing to allow the Libyan Embassy in Ankara to operate under the green flag Flag of Libya The Libyan Independence Flag or Flag of Libya was the original flag of the Kingdom of Libya introduced in 1951 following the creation of the Libyan state in the post World War II period... , but it had ceased communicating with the embassy and would allow the NTC to open an office in Turkey. However on 22 August embassy staff changed flag above the embassy and NTC representative in Turkey entered the embassy to way for instructions from Benghazi. On 2 September Turkey reopened its embassy in Libya. |
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| 23 |  Poland |
Recognised on 8 July 2011 | During his visit to Benghazi on 11 May, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said "We recognize the council as the legitimate interlocutor of the international community and as a representative of the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people." On 21 June, the government announced its ambassador to Libya, Wojciech Brożek, would head up a permanent diplomatic office in Benghazi. On 7 July, Poland opened embassy in Benghazi. On 8 July, the Foreign Minister of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, announced that Poland recognised only the NTC as the "legitimate government of the Libyan people". At the fourth Libya Contact Group meeting in Istanbul minister Sikorski presented Poland’s assistance package for Libya. It included proposals to launch the Polish medical mission in Misrata and a training mission for state officials (police or border guards), readiness for training the new personnel in Poland (including education at Polish universities). The Polish Press Agency Polish Press Agency Polish Press Agency is a Poland's news agency owned by Polska Agencja Prasowa S.A., distributing political, economic, social, and cultural press releases as well as events info and online news, in a similar way to Reuters, Agence France-Presse and AP.... reported that unofficially the Polish government could have supplied the rebels with anti-tank rocket launchers and military vehicles "some months ago" and officers of Polish Special Forces were helping in direct operations. Ahmed El-Mallul, a Libyan surgeon living in Poland is the mediator between the NTC and the Polish government. On 15 September Poland reopened its embassy in Tripoli. |
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| 24 |  Netherlands |
Recognised on 13 July 2011 | Originally, the Netherlands had refused to recognise, despite being involved in the no-fly zone. On 5 May 2011, a spokesman for the council said the Netherlands had recognised it as the legitimate representative of Libya. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs flatly denied the claim, saying, "That message is not correct." The Dutch government, though a participant in international operations in Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, on the situation in Libya, is a measure that was adopted on 17 March 2011. The Security Council resolution was proposed by France, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom.... , said in June it believes other states have moved too quickly in recognising or otherwise affirming the legitimacy of the National Transitional Council. During a meeting with Mahmoud Jibril, one of the leaders of the NTC, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg declared their recognition of the NTC as the preliminary legal representative of the Libyan people. On 3 September the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal Uri Rosenthal Uriël "Uri" Rosenthal is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He is the Minister of Foreign Affairs since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte. He served as a Member of the Senate from June 8, 1999 until October 14, 2010. And the Parliamentary leader in the Senate... said at the European Union summit in Sopot Sopot Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000.... that the Netherlands will reopen its embassy as soon as possible. |
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| 25 |  Belgium |
Recognised on 13 July 2011 | During a meeting with Mahmoud Jibril, one of the leaders of the NTC, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg declared their recognition of the NTC as the legal representative of the Libyan people. | |
| 26 |  Luxembourg |
Recognised on 13 July 2011 | During a meeting with Mahmoud Jibril, one of the leaders of the NTC, the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg declared their recognition of the NTC as the legal representative of the Libyan people. | |
| 27 |  United States |
Recognised on 15 July 2011 | On 10 March 2011, Secretary of State Secretary of State Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government.... Hillary Clinton met anti-Gaddafi opposition leaders during a trip to Egypt and Tunisia. After the meeting between Clinton and representatives of the council, the European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... and the U.S have decided to talk to the council without officially recognising them, in order to seek further information on the group and its goals. On 17 March, ahead of a U.N vote on a no-fly zone, Under Secretary of State Under Secretary of State The Under Secretary of State, from 1919 to 1972, was the second-ranking official at the United States Department of State , serving as the Secretary's principal deputy, chief assistant, and Acting Secretary in the event of the Secretary's absence... William Burns William Burns William Burns may refer to:*William Chalmers Burns , Scottish evangelist and missionary*William D. Burns , Illinois State Representative... affirmed U.S support for a no-fly zone, as well as more aggressive measures to restrain Gaddhafi, that the U.S is investigating transferring Gaddafi's frozen assets to the rebels, and that the NTC may open an embassy in Washington Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... . On 29 March, the U.S. confirmed at a conference in London that it will send a formal representative to Benghazi. In late April, Ambassador Gene Cretz Gene Cretz Gene A. Cretz is a career diplomat, who was nominated in July 2007 by President Bush to be the first U.S. Ambassador to Libya since 1972. His nomination was confirmed by the US Senate on November 21, 2008. He was sworn-in as U.S. Ambassador to Libya by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on... said the U.S. was continuing to consider formal recognition of the council, but in the meantime, it is providing strong informal support, including reportedly authorising international oil deals with rebel-held eastern Libya. On 13 May 2011, US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said his government recognised the National Transitional Council as "a legitimate and credible interlocutor of the Libyan people" after meeting with Prime Minister Mahmoud Jebril. White House White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical... Press Secretary Jay Carney Jay Carney James "Jay" Carney is an American journalist and President Barack Obama's second White House Press Secretary. Prior to his appointment as Press Secretary, replacing Robert Gibbs, he was director of communications to Vice President Joe Biden... said that the U.S. had not yet decided to fully recognise the council as Libya's sole legitimate representative body. On 24 May, the NTC opened a formal diplomatic office in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... (the U.S. had already had an office in Benghazi with a formal envoy for nearly two months). On 9 June, Clinton said, "The United States views the Transitional National Council as the legitimate interlocutor for the Libyan people during this interim period," but Washington and Benghazi indicated that the U.S. still had not committed to the same level of formal recognition as France and several other countries. On 15 July, at an international conference on Libya held in Turkey, Clinton stated that the US had decided to formally recognise the TNC as the country's "legitimate authority", allowing the US to divert over $30 billion worth of Gaddafi regime funds frozen in the US to the TNC. On 19 July, after sending a message to Gaddafi that there would be no negotiation and that he must step down, the US began to urge other countries to recognise the NTC. |
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| 28 |  Japan |
Recognised on 15 July 2011 | At a meeting of a contact group in Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... , Vice Foreign Minister Hisashi Tokunaga Hisashi Tokunaga is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet . A graduate of Waseda University, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007 after serving in the assembly of Shiga Prefecture.- External links :* in Japanese.... said, "I would like to take this opportunity to declare that the government of Japan regards the NTC as the legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people." On 22 August the Libyan embassy in Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... has changed its national green flag to the tricolor flag of the former Kingdom of Libya Kingdom of Libya The Kingdom of Libya, originally called the United Libyan Kingdom came into existence upon independence on 24 December 1951 and lasted until a coup d'état led by Muammar Gaddafi on 1 September 1969 overthrew King Idris of Libya and established the Libyan Arab Republic.- Constitution :Under the... . |
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| 29 |  Albania |
Recognised on 18 July 2011 | On 29 March, Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto Edmond Haxhinasto Edmond Haxhinasto is the current deputy Prime Minister of Albania and the minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Albania. Edmond Haxhinasto was born in Tirana on the 16th November 1966. Haxhinasto graduated from the University of Tirana, Faculty of History and Philology, English Chair in1989... said Albania would open its airspace and territorial waters to coalition forces and said its seaports and airports were at the coalition's disposal upon request. Haxhinasto also suggested that Albania could make a "humanitarian" contribution to international efforts. In mid-April, the International Business Times International Business Times The International Business Times is an online global business newspaper, published in 17 editions in 10 languages across 13 countries. The publication, sometimes called IBTimes, offers news, analysis and editorial commentary on business and business related stories... listed Albania Albania Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea... alongside several other NATO member states, including Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... , Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... , Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... and Turkey Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... , that have made contributions to the military effort, although it did not go into detail. The Albanian Foreign Ministry announced on 18 July in a statement, "The Albanian government backs the activities of the National Transitional Council and its program for a democratic Libya, and considers the council to be the legitimate representative of the Libyan people." Even prior to recognition, Albania was a staunch supporter of the military intervention in Libya 2011 military intervention in Libya On 19 March 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to events during the 2011 Libyan civil war... . On 22 August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated "the people of Libya ... [on] marking the end of the dictatorial regime of Muammar Gaddafi" and said it would work to strengthen bilateral relations between Tirana Tirana Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over... and Tripoli Tripoli Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three... , and on 23 August, Albanian President Bamir Topi Bamir Topi Bamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:... congratulated the NTC on what it called "a historic moment in the deposal of one of the dictatorial regimes of our era". On 29 August, the Libyan Embassy in Tirana Tirana Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over... changed its flag from Gaddafi's green banner to the tricolour adopted by the NTC. |
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| 30 |  Slovenia |
Recognised on 20 July 2011 | The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced on 20 July in a statement, "The Slovenian government recognises the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people until the establishment of a transitional authority in a post-Gaddafi Libya." | |
| 31 |  Kingdom of Montenegro |
Recognised on 21 July 2011 | The Montenegrin government published a press release online in which it said, according to an English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... translation, "The Government of Montenegro adopted the Decision on the recognition of the Libyan National Transitional Council (LNTC) as a legitimate political representative of the Libyan people." According to the release, the move was intended to be consistent with the United Nations Security Council United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of... , the European Council European Council The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy... , and the Libya Contact Group Libya Contact Group The Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in... . Media subsequently reported Podgorica Podgorica Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement... considered the NTC to be Libya's legitimate government. |
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| 32 |  United Kingdom |
Recognised on 27 July 2011 | On 5 March 2011, Defence Secretary Liam Fox Liam Fox Liam Fox MP is a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for North Somerset, and former Secretary of State for Defence.... stated that "a small British diplomatic team" was in Benghazi. On 10 March, Britain and France released a statement calling on Europe to recognise the National Transitional Council. Britain was the first country to formally invite the National Transitional Council to open a diplomatic office within its borders. The Foreign Secretary William Hague William Hague William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001... said that the council was the "legitimate representative of the Libyan people". On 12 May 2011, Foreign Secretary William Hague William Hague William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001... stated that "Gaddafi should realise in our view that time is against him and it is the National Transitional Council that is the legitimate interlocutor representative of the Libyan people". He also announced that the NTC had been invited to open a mission in London. During a visit to Benghazi in June, he reiterated that the UK views the NTC as the "legitimate representative of the Libyan people." On 27 July 2011, William Hague confirmed that the United Kingdom will deal with the National Transitional Council as the "legitimate governing authority in Libya" and treat the NTC "as if they were the state of Libya". It was also stated that the UK would expell remaining Gadaffi regime diplomats, as the British Government no longer recognises them as representatives of the Libyan government, and invite the NTC to appoint a new Libyan diplomatic envoy to take over the Libyan Embassy in London. On 10 August 2011, the British Foreign Secretary announced that Transitional National Council was staffing the Libyan Embassy in London. |
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| 33 |  Portugal |
Recognised on 28 July 2011 | The Sydney Morning Herald The Sydney Morning Herald The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The... reported on 11 March that Portugal recognised the council shortly after France, but it did not quote a source, and the claim was never corroborated by the Portuguese government or any other source. Portugal voted for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, on the situation in Libya, is a measure that was adopted on 17 March 2011. The Security Council resolution was proposed by France, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom.... and its UN ambassador asserted that "the regime that has ruled Libya for over 40 years has come to an end by the will of the Libyan people", referring to Gaddafi's government and the uprising against it. On 9 June, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado Luís Amado Luís Filipe Marques Amado was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal in the government led by the Socialist Party. Before replacing Diogo Freitas do Amaral as Minister of Foreign Affairs on 30 June 2006, Amado was the Minister of Defence... clarified that they had not yet recognised, but "the decision [to recognize NTC] will be taken soon by this government or the next." He said that while Lisbon Lisbon Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban... plans to recognise the council and is dispatching a permanent diplomatic mission to Benghazi, his government has some concerns as to decisions it has made that it wants to be assuaged before it officially grants recognition. On 28 July, the Portuguese Foreign Ministry released a statement recognising the NTC "as the legitimate governing authority of Libya until the formation of a transitional authority". |
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| 34 |  Gabon |
Recognised on 19 August 2011 | After meeting with Mahmoud Jibril Mahmoud Jibril Mahmoud Jibril el-Warfally , also transcribed Jabril or Jebril or Gebril, is a Libyan politician who served as the interim Prime Minister of Libya for seven and a half months during the 2011 Libyan civil war, chairing the executive board of the National Transitional Council from 5 March 2011 to 23... , President Ali Bongo Ondimba announced Gabonese recognition for the NTC as the Libyan people's legitimate representative. However the formal instruction of the President about the recognition of NTC by government in Libreville Libreville Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :... was submitted at 14 August and implemented at 19 August. Libya's pro-Gaddafi ambassador to Gabon left the host country on 24 August after a formal request by the Gabonese government. |
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| 35 |  Tunisia |
Recognised on 20 August 2011 | Tunisia's cabinet spokesman, Taieb Baccouche, announced that Tunisia was ready to recognise the rebels as the sole legitimate government of Libya as soon as they came to negotiate for it. It gave three reasons for this action: that the shelling of its own people rendered Gaddhafi's government illegitimate, that it still resented Gaddhafi's support to President Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... during the Tunisian Revolution, and that Gaddhafi's shelling of its territory had rendered its previous strategy of neutrality ineffective. Abdul Jalil visited Tunisia on 18 June to meet with Prime Minister Beji Caid el Sebsi Beji Caid el Sebsi Beji Caid el Sebsi is a Tunisian lawyer and politician. Since 27 February 2011, he has been the Prime Minister of Tunisia.-Personal life:Born in Sidi Bou Said in a family from the beylical agricultural makhzen, he is the direct great-grandson of Ismail Caid Essebsi, a mamluk of Tunisian corsairs... and said that Tunisia had not recognised his government publicly, but he believed the meeting indicated de facto recognition. On 20 August, the Tunis Afrique Presse Tunis Afrique Presse Tunis Afrique Presse is a Tunisian press agency founded on January 1, 1961. It is a monopoly as the only source of information in Tunisia .... (TAP) reported the Tunisian government recognised the NTC as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people, just after clashing with pro-Gaddafi Libyan troops in Tunisian territory the previous day. |
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| 36 |  New Zealand |
Recognised on 22 August 2011 | New Zealand Prime Minister John Key John Key John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006.... stated on 22 August 2011 that New Zealand's ambassador to Egypt will travel to the Libyan city of Benghazi to establish a working relationship with the Transitional National Council as the legitimate voice of the Libyan people. |
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| 37 |  Egypt |
Recognised on 22 August 2011 | Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Elaraby Nabil Elaraby Nabil Elaraby is an Egyptian diplomat, currently the Secretary-General of the Arab League having been elected on 15 May 2011. Previously, he was Foreign Minister of Egypt in Essam Sharaf's government from March-June 2011.-Early life and education:Elaraby holds a J.S.D. and an LL.M... said on 25 May 2011 that his government would post former Deputy Foreign Minister Hany Khallaf in Benghazi to liaise with the council as Egypt's diplomatic envoy. On 22 August 2011 Egypt recognises the NTC as the sole legitimate government of Libya. |
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| 38 |  Morocco |
Recognised on 22 August 2011 | Morocco recognises the NTC as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people. The Libyan embassy in Rabat announced on the same day its rallying to the NTC. In a statement to Moroccan TV channels “Al Oula” and “2M”, aired on their evening news, Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri stressed that “the Kingdom of Morocco confirms its recognition of the National Transitional Council as the sole and legitimate representative of the Libyan people and carrier of its aspirations for a better future based on equity, justice, democracy and the rule of law. The same day Libyan embassy and community in Morocco considered the NTC as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people. | |
| 39 |  Republic of Ireland |
Recognised on 22 August 2011 | On 18 March 2011, Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore Eamon Gilmore Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and... stated, "I believe that Colonel Gaddafi has lost all legitimacy to rule and should be encouraged to leave the stage." Speaking in the Oireachtas Oireachtas The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann... on 22 March, Gilmore stated that as a country Ireland "supported those seeking to establish democracy in Libya". On 20 April, Gilmore met with the NTC's UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... representative in Dublin, who claimed afterward that "Mr. Gilmore said that, in practical terms, he does look at the council as the true interlocutor and voice of the Libyan people, he does recognise our aspiration for a transition to democracy and he believes that Gaddafi and his sons must leave power. However, he reminded us that the policy of the Irish government is to recognise states and not political bodies." However, on 22 August, in his statement on developments in Libya, the Tánaiste Tánaiste The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :... of Ireland stated on the Department of Foreign Affairs' website, "The Libyan National Transitional Council is now the only authority in Libya, and I hope they will quickly be able to establish an effective government over the whole country." |
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| 40 |  Oman |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | Citing the Associated Press, Qatar-based Libya TV reports that "Oman has recognized Libya’s revolutionary-led council as the country’s legitimate international representatives" and has broken off "relations with Moammar Gaddafi’s regime in favor of the National Transitional Council". The Libyan embassy in Muscat Muscat, Oman Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats... decided to join the host country in recognising the NTC. |
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| 41 |  Bahrain |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | On 23 August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain published the following announcement: "Recalling the brotherhood and solidarity ties that link the Kingdom of Bahrain Government and people with the Libyan people, and out of the deep feelings that stem from the unity of the hopes, goals, and common destiny, and in light of recent developments in Libya, the Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its recognition of Libya's Transitional National Council (TNC) as the sole legitimate representative of the brotherly Libyan people, wishes Libya to achieve prosperity, progress and stability, development and reconstruction." | |
| 42 |  Nigeria |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | On 23 August it was reported by the media that "Nigeria’s government said it recognized Libya’s National Transition Council as the legitimate representative of the people in the North Africa nation." | |
| 43 |  Malta |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi Lawrence Gonzi Lawrence Gonzi is a Maltese politician who has been Prime Minister of Malta since 2004. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta from 1988 to 1996, Minister of Social Policy from 1998 to 1999, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004... announced on 1 June 2011 that Malta is recognising the National Transitional Council of Libya as the sole legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people. However, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg Tonio Borg Tonio Borg is a Maltese politician who has been Deputy Prime Minister of Malta since 2004. He was Minister of Home Affairs from 1995 to 1996 and again from 1998 to 2008; since 2008, he has been Minister of Foreign Affairs... clarified on 2 June that Malta would retain an embassy in Tripoli and does not recognise the council as Libya's government, just as its legitimate interlocutor. However, nine days later, Malta clarified by saying that while they recognise the NTC only as a legitimate interlocutor, they recognise it as the only legitimate interlocutor, and that their relations with Gaddafi would be cut. On 18 July, Borg said Malta was continuing to consider granting "full recognition", but it would first have to determine what it could legally do with frozen assets belonging to Gaddafi's regime in the island country. On 21 August the Libyan embassy announced that it is recognising the NTC as the sole legitimate government of Libya. On 23 August, Gonzi said Malta recognised the NTC as Libya's legitimate government. |
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| 44 |  Iraq |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | A statement on the Iraqi Foreign Ministry website read, "The cabinet decided today, 23 August 2011, to recognise the Libyan National Transitional Council as the only and legitimate representative of the Libyan people." | |
| 45 |  Greece |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | After maintaining a diplomatic liaison presence in Benghazi since 15 May 2011, the Greek government recognised the NTC as "the legal entity that will lead the Libyan people to the critical new phase of a transitional process", Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis Stavros Lambrinidis Stavros Lambrinidis is a former Vice President of the European Parliament and was between 17 June 2011 until 11 November 2011 the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece.-Yale University:... said on 23 August. |
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| 46 |  Norway |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | Officials of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have met several times with representatives from the NTC starting on 19 April 2011. In April, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said, "We were ... concerned about who should be represented in an upcoming political process should Gaddafi retreat, agreeing that people who have been close to the old regime must also be represented in a new political process," but he made no mention of whether Norway had chosen to recognise the NTC or not. According to Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... n envoy Mikhail Margelov Mikhail Margelov Mikhail Vitalievich Margelov , the current Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of Russia. He is a member of the United Russia party and has represented the Pskov region in the Federation Council since December 2000... , Norway's capital of Oslo Oslo Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King... is one of the venues in which revolutionary and loyalist officials have met for closed-door negotiations, although the NTC has frequently denied that it meets with representatives of Gaddafi's government. In late June, The Foreigner The Foreigner (newspaper) The Foreigner is a Norwegian online English language newspaper. The publication was established in February 2009.... reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had released a statement recognising the NTC as a "legitimate political body". On 23 August, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre Jonas Gahr Støre Jonas Gahr Støre is the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, having been appointed to Jens Stoltenberg's second cabinet on 17 October 2005. He represents the Norwegian Labour Party.-Personal life:... said his government believes "it will be important for a broad interim government to lead the country through a transitional phase" and therefore recognised the NTC as the legitimate authority in Libya. |
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| 47 |  Lebanon |
Recognised on 23 August 2011 | The Lebanese cabinet agreed at a meeting to transfer recognition to the NTC until an interim authority is in place. | |
| 48 |  South Korea |
Recognised on 24 August 2011 | On 22 August, unidentified persons broke into the residence of the South Korean ambassador and looted it. The same day an official from the Foreign Ministry has said that its country reached an agreement with rebel forces that they will honour existing contracts after civil war. Foreign Ministry announced also that other Korean ministries were negotiating with NTC about honoring the contracts signed by Gaddafi. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... said his government recognised the NTC "as the legitimate governing authority representing the Libyan people" and vowed its support for the council to "achieve political stability and peace, and to establish a free, democratic country". |
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| 49 |  Sudan |
Recognised on 24 August 2011 | In early July, the Sudan Tribune suggested that the Sudanese government may be working in support of the NTC, noting that President Omar al-Bashir Omar al-Bashir Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir is the current President of Sudan and the head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister... has been a frequent critic of Gaddafi and asserting that "Sudan has unofficially given its blessings to the [council]". The Libyan community in Sudan took over the Libyan embassy in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum Khartoum Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"... and appointed a new pro-NTC ambassador on 22 August. Sudan Sudan Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the... officially recognised the NTC as the legal representative for the Libyan people two days later and said it was "working to enter into practical relations" with the council. On 24 and 27 August Benghazi was visited by two Sudanese officials. The first was Mohamed Atta, head of Sudan’s intelligence services. The second was Sudan’s foreign minister Ali Karti. |
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| 50 |  Hungary |
Recognised on 24 August 2011 | On 3 June the Hungarian government has decided to accept to assume the protection of American diplomatic and consular interests in Libya. On 24 August, the Foreign Ministry informed the MTI Magyar Távirati Iroda MTI is a Hungarian news agency. One of the oldest news agencies in the world, it was founded in 1880.MTI is owned by MTI Rt., founded by the Parliament. The members of the Owners’ Advisory Body are elected by the National Assembly of Hungary on four-year terms. It's a marketleader, and is... that it recognised the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of Libya. “Hungary supports the council’s efforts to stabilise Libya’s internal situation and hopes that the NTC would restore order and security in the spirit of legality, and make all the required steps towards consolidation and reconstruction,” the ministry’s statement said. |
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| 51 |  Chad |
Recognised on 24 August 2011 | Although Chad was previously hostile to the no-fly zone and made statements supportive of Gaddafi, United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the... met with high-level Chadian officials and announced afterward that "the Chadian government does not support Gaddafi". She added, "We are very supportive of their efforts to reach out to the Transitional National Council, which they have been doing in a more sustained way in recent days." However, Chad retains an ambassador in Tripoli, Daoussa Déby (half-brother of President Idriss Déby Idriss Déby General Idriss Déby Itno is the President of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Déby is of the Bidyat clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group. He added "Itno" to his surname in January 2006.-Rise to power:... ), who previously appeared to support Gaddafi's claims that the Libyan rebels are affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Foreign Ministry Secretary General Moussa Dago said Chad recognised the NTC as "the only legitimate authority of the Libyan people" on 24 August. |
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| 52 |  Ethiopia |
Recognised on 24 August 2011 | On 22 August, the Libyan embassy in Ethiopia recognised the NTC as "the country’s legitimate representative". In a joint press conference with Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... n Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru and Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on 24 August, a spokesman for the Ethiopian government said, "The recent unfolding events in Libya have amply demonstrated that the National Transition Council is in the control of the greater part of Libya." The spokesman announced that Ethiopia was joining Nigeria in recognising the NTC as "the interim legitimate authority in Libya", and both Ashiru and Desalegn called on the African Union African Union The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity... to do likewise. |
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| 53 |  Burkina Faso |
Recognised on 24 August 2011 | BBC reports, "Burkina Faso and Chad, two nations which received large amounts of aid from Libya under Col Gaddafi, have now joined the list of more than 40 countries recognising the rebels' NTC as Libya's legitimate authority. Although Burkina Faso initially said it would offer Col. Gaddafi exile if he requests it, On 6 September Burkina Faso canceled their offer of exile, saying that harboring Gaddafi would "create too many problems" for their country. | |
| 54 |  Colombia |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | Colombian newspaper El Tiempo (Colombia) reported that President Juan Manuel Santos Juan Manuel Santos Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:... gave permission to the chancellor(minister of foreign affairs) to recognise the NTC as an interlocutor of the Libyan people. He also added that "the Libyan people deserve a regimen that respects human rights, liberty and a government that values democracy". On 25 August during the visit of NTC representatives president announced that Colombia recognized the National Transitional Council as the legitimate authority of Libya. |
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| 55 |  Serbia |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | On 23 August, the Libyan embassy in Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... raised the flag of the Libyan rebels. Two days later, the Serbian National Assembly National Assembly of Serbia The National Assembly of Serbia is the unicameral parliament of Serbia. It is composed of 250 proportionally elected deputies elected in general elections by secret ballot, on 4 years term. The National Assembly elects the President of the National Assembly who presides over the sessions... adopted a resolution recognising the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. |
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| 56 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | On 22 August, the Libyan embassy was ransacked by pro-democratic Libyan students. Police responded when the protesters entered the building and raised the tricolor flag, and the students occupying the embassy were removed. Two days later, the Libyan ambassador announced his loyalty to the NTC. On 25 August, the three-member presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina released a statement recognising the NTC as "the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people". | |
| 57 |  Mongolia |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | The Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press statement stating, "Mongolia respects the resolve of the Libyan people and recognizes the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. We fully support the transition of Libya into a democratic, just, and human rights respecting country." | |
| 58 |  Djibouti |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | State-owned media reported that the Djiboutian government submitted documents to the Arab League Arab League The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a... and released a statement notifying the international community of its decision to recognise the NTC as the "legal and sole representative of the Libyan people until the setting up of constitutional institutions". The statement also congratulated the Libyan people on "the success of the 17 February revolution" and expressed hope for strong bilateral ties in future. |
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| 59 |  Côte d'Ivoire |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | Ivorian Foreign Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan Daniel Kablan Duncan Daniel Kablan Duncan is a Ivorian politician who was Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire from 11 December 1993 to 24 December 1999. Since June 2011, he has served in the government as Minister of Foreign Affairs.... said Yamoussoukro Yamoussoukro The District of Yamoussoukro is the official political capital and administrative capital city of Côte d'Ivoire, while the economic capital of the country is Abidjan. As of 2010, it was estimated to have 242,744 inhabitants... considers the NTC "the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people". Duncan also called for the NTC to initiate a national dialogue and hold "free, open, and transparent elections" as soon as possible. |
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| 60 |  Republic of Macedonia |
Recognised on 25 August 2011 | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that "Macedonia joins to the efforts and activities of the international community for implementation of the goals of the resolution from 1970 and 1973 of the Council of the UN. Macedonia, as the EU, implements all restrictions against Libya approved by the Council of the EU. Macedonia recognises the National Transitional Council as legal representative of the Libyan people and Libya itself". | |
| 61 |  Cyprus |
Recognised on 26 Augsut 2011 | On 24 August a group of Libyans living in Cyprus arrived at the Embassy in Nicosia Nicosia Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line... . The Libyan Ambassador Mustafa Al Mgherby met with them. The ambassador agreed to take down the green flag. Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis is a Cypriot politician who is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus. She had also served in this post from July 2007 until March 2008. She is married with George Marcoullis and has a son.-References:... has recognised NTC "as the legitimate representative of the country’s people". |
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| 62 |  Malaysia |
Recognised on 26 August 2011 | On 23 August, the Libyan embassy in Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million... was closed by its employees. On 26 August, the embassy staff decided to change flag. The Malaysian Foreign minister Anifah Aman Anifah Aman Dato' Sri Anifah bin Haji Aman is the current Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation , which is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and a Member of Parliament representing Kimanis in Sabah... said in a statement on 26 August that his country's government recognised the National Transitional Council as "the legitimate interim government" of Libya. |
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| 63 |  Rwanda |
Recognised on 26 August 2011 | On 26 August, Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo Louise Mushikiwabo Louise Mushikiwabo is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda.Her brother, Lando Ndasingwa, was the only tutsi minister in the last Habyarimana government, but was killed in the beginning the 1994 genocide.- References :... called on the African Union African Union The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity... to "support" the NTC and said, "We support the National Transitional Council. ... We think that Colonel Gaddafi has run out of time as a leader." In Addis Ababa Addis Ababa Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia... , Ethiopia Ethiopia Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2... , Mushikiwabo said Rwanda recognised the NTC as "the sole and legitimate representative of the Libyan people" even though the AU Peace and Security Council Peace and Security Council The Peace and Security Council is the organ of the African Union in charge of enforcing union decisions. It is patterned somewhat after the United Nations Security Council.... opted not to do so. |
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| 64 |  Estonia |
Recognised on 26 August 2011 | The Estonian government published a press release online on 11 March 2011 claiming European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... leaders, including Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip Andrus Ansip Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the market liberal Estonian Reform Party .-Early life and career:... , called for Gaddafi to leave power at a summit in Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... . Ansip was quoted as saying, "What is taking place in Libya right now is an extensive and brutal violation of human rights. At the meeting, we expressed strong solidarity with the Libyan people." Estonia also pledged €50,000 for International Red Cross humanitarian aid efforts in Libya. On 18 July, Foreign Affairs Minister Urmas Paet Urmas Paet Urmas Paet is an Estonian politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia since 2005. He is a member of the Estonian Reform Party. As of September 2010, Paet has been the longest serving minister since the re-establishment of Estonian independence.-Biography:Paet was born in Tallinn... said, "During the transition period Estonia's sole partner for legitimate political communication is Libya's National Transition Council." Paet also condemned "human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Libya" and hailed the Libya Contact Group Libya Contact Group The Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in... , "whose goal is to support the people of Libya in their endeavours towards change and towards a unified, sovereign and democratic Libya", Paet said. Paet expressed Estonia's support for the NTC on 26 August, calling it "the interim authority until a elected Libyan government is formed". |
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| 65 |  Benin |
Recognised on 26 August 2011 | Late on 26 August, the government of Benin issued a statement recognising the NTC. The next day, Beninese and Nigerien officials held a joint press conference to announce their recognition of the council. | |
| 66 |  Niger |
Recognised on 27 August 2011 | An official statement read out on national radio said in part, "The Niger government acknowledges the regime change in Libya and formally recognises the NTC as the only authority representing the Libyan people." | |
| 67 |  Togo |
Recognised on 27 August 2011 | In an official statement the Togolese Foreign Ministry announced that the government recognized the NTC as "the sole legitimate representative of the people and interests in Libya". Reuters Reuters Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data... reported that Togo had decided to echo neighbouring Benin's recognition a day after the larger country transferred recognition to the NTC. |
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| 68 |  Guinea |
Recognised on 28 August 2011 | The Foreign Minister of Guinea Niankoi Lama announced : "The Government of the Republic of Guinea, deeply concerned about the grave situation in Libya, decided, as of today August 28, 2011, to recognize the National Transition Council, CNT Libya, as the only legitimate authority, representative of the brotherly people of Libya. " | |
| 69 |  Czech Republic |
Recognised on 29 August 2011 | Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg Karel Schwarzenberg Karel Schwarzenberg or Karel, Prince of Schwarzenberg , 7... , after meeting with a representative from the NTC, stated on 14 June that although the Czech Republic had not yet recognised the NTC as the legitimate government of Libya, it offered "material assistance", as well as "expert advice" on the transition to democracy. On 29 June, when visiting Benghazi, Schwarzenberg stated the Czech Republic recognised the NTC as the credible representative of the Libyan people and handed over a shipment of humanitarian aid worth 2.5 million Koruna and offered medical care for Libyan children. However, on 29 July, Schwarzenberg clarified that while Prague Prague Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million... maintains contact with the NTC via an unofficial Czech ambassador in Benghazi, "I may like them, but unless they control the whole country, I will not recognise them officially." Speaking to journalists at the Libyan consulate in Prague Prague Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million... on 22 August, Libyan Chargé d'Affaires, Nuri al-Ghavi expressed appreciation towards the Czechs and government for their stance in Libya. But at the same time, he was disappointed with the lack of official recognition of the NTC by the government. Libyan organisations in the Czech Republic have said this will damage bilateral relations. The government eventually recognised the NTC on 29 August 2011. |
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| 70 |  Philippines |
Recognised on 30 August 2011 | The Libyan embassy in the Philippines formally informed the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a note that the embassy is no longer representing Libya under Gaddafi but the National Transitional Council (NTC). As a result of their decision, the diplomats may be expelled if the Libyan Foreign Ministry would request Manila not to recognise them as Libya remains under Gaddafi government hands. Libyan rebels have contacted with DFA to assure that they allow Filipinos to leave Libya. They also visited their embassy in Tripoli to prepare repatriation arrangements. DFA on 24 August expressed support for the NTC in Libya and stated that Libyan embassy officials still have diplomatic status. On 30 August the DFA stated that the Philippines recognizes the NTC as the legitimate government of the Libyan people during this period of transition in the country and hopes that it will lead the country towards peace and stability. The Philippines seeks to contribute in rebuilding Libya "in the form of Filipino professionals in the construction, energy and medical fields". The government also gave thanks to the Libyan people for keeping Filipinos in Libya safe throughout the conflict. | |
| 71 |  Slovakia |
Recognised on 30 August 2011 | On 23 August the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic declared that Gaddafis regime has lost legitimacy. The Slovakia declared that is prepared to support and work with Libya in founding "democracy and respect to human rights". Slovak foreign minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Mikuláš Dzurinda Mikuláš Dzurinda is a Slovak politician who was Prime Minister of Slovakia from 30 October 1998 to 4 July 2006. He was a founder and leader of the Slovak Democratic Coalition and the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union... stated on 30 August that Bratislava Bratislava Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava... "recognized National Transitional Council as of 30 August as the sole representative of Libya" and believes that "National Transitional Council will guarantee adherence of law, justice and human rights for all Libyan citiziens." |
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| 72 |  Armenia |
Recognised on 31 August 2011 | The Armenian National Congress Armenian National Congress The Armenian National Congress is a coalition of 13 opposition parties in the Republic of Armenia led by former President Levon Ter-Petrossian and formed in 2008. Its direct predecessor was the Armenian Popular Movement... , the main opposition bloc in Armenia, issued a statement on 1 September congratulating "Libyan people" for triumphing over Gaddafi. It also appeared to hail the NTC, saying, "After Tunisia and Egypt, Libya was the next in a row to win its right for legitimate authorities, establishing democracy, and developing a free society in a law-governed state." On 2 September Spokeman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia answered the question of recognition of NTC by Armenia with this words: "Through the Embassy of Libya in Paris the note of the MFA of Armenia on the recognition of the National Transitional Council of Libya, dated from 31 August, has already been handed over." |
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| 73 |  Russia |
Recognised on 1 September 2011 | Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on 24 May that Russia will be recognising the Council as a "legitimate negotiator for the country's future." Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister specified by saying that the NTC "does not seek to be recognized as the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people, but wants to be seen as a legitimate partner in negotiations on Libya's future". Russia, however, had not broken off relations with Gaddafi, and met him via Presidential Envoy Mikhail Margelov Mikhail Margelov Mikhail Vitalievich Margelov , the current Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of Russia. He is a member of the United Russia party and has represented the Pskov region in the Federation Council since December 2000... on 8 June. On 18 July, Russia specified that it would not recognise the NTC as the official authority of Libya, because that would be picking a side in the war. On 24 August, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint... stated that "if the rebels have the power and spirit and opportunity to unite the country on a new democratic basis, then of course we will consider establishing relations with them". The Libyan People's Bureau in Moscow lowered the Gaddafi-era green flag on 24 August 2011, but by 26 August 2011, the embassy was flagless, in what The Moscow Times The Moscow Times The Moscow Times is an English-language daily newspaper published in Moscow, Russia since 1992. The circulation in 2008 stood at 35,000 copies and the newspaper is typically given out for free at places English-language "expats" attend, including hotels, cafés and restaurants, as well as by... saw as a sign that Libyan diplomats were still weighing up their allegiance. On 29 August 2011, the People's Bureau raised the pre-Gaddafi flag used by the rebels outside the mission, with Libyan Ambassador to Russia Amir al-Arabi Ali Gharib Amir al-Arabi Ali Gharib Amir al-Arabi Ali Gharib is a Libyan diplomat and the current Ambassador of Libya to Russia, presenting his credentials to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 12 October 2009.-References:... stating that he expected Russia to recognise the NTC in due course. On 1 September, the Russian government officially recognised the NTC as the government of Libya, and expects that contracts signed with the Gaddafi government would be honoured. On 3 September FM Lavrov invited NTC to Moscow for talks about the new Russian energy projects in Libya. |
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| 74 |  Finland |
Recognised on 1 September 2011 | On 10 August, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja Erkki Tuomioja Erkki Sakari Tuomioja is the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs. He is currently a member of the Finnish Parliament.Tuomioja is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, although his political views are thought to be more to the left than the party line. He is also a member of ATTAC... said his government considers the NTC to be a legitimate representative of the Libyan people, but it does not consider it to be Libya's legal government. Tuomioja said Helsinki Helsinki Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... 's policy is to recognise states, not governments. However, in a press release on 1 September, the Foreign Ministry declared, "Finland, as other EU countries, considers the National Transitional Council as the legitimate governing authority in Libya and, at this stage, as the sole representative of the state and people of Libya." |
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| 75 |  Kingdom of Romania |
Recognised on 1 September 2011 | In April, the Romanian government said it recognised the NTC as "a political interlocutor". Romanian officials visited Benghazi to meet with NTC officials on 25 July. On 26 August, the Romanian government invited the NTC to send a delegation to visit Bucharest Bucharest Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... . President Traian Băsescu Traian Basescu Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004... said just before the Libya Contact Group Libya Contact Group The Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in... met in Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... , on 1 September, that he recognised the NTC as Romania's "sole partner" in Libya until a better alternative emerged, such as through democratic elections. The embassy of Romania reasumed its work on 2 October. |
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| 76 |  Ukraine |
Recognised on 1 September 2011 | On 22 August, the Libyan embassy in Kiev Kiev Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press.... lowered the green flag and raised the tricolour adopted by the National Transitional Council. On 1 September, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was recognising the NTC "as the only lawful representative of the Libyan people". |
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| 77 |  Azerbaijan |
Recognised on 2 September 2011 | On 22 August, the Libyan embassy in Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal... lowered the green flag. Azerbaijan's ambassador to Libya, Aghasalim Shukurov, told Radio Liberty that his country "will try to establish relations with the new government in Libya". On 2 September, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry put out a press declaration saying in part, "The Republic of Azerbaijan respects the will of the Libyan people and recognizes the Interim Transitional Council of Libya as the authority of Libya." |
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| 78 |  Botswana |
Recognised on 2 September 2011 | Foreign Affairs Minister Phandu Skelemani Phandu Skelemani Phandu Tombola Chaka Skelemani is a Botswana politician of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party , currently serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs... said Botswana recognised the NTC "as a legitimate opposition force in Libya", until elections were held or until a unity government was formed between the NTC and the Gaddafi regime. Botswana was among the first countries to break off relations with Gaddafi's government over his response to protests in February. On 2 September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying Botswana "has decided to join other members of the international community in recognising the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) as the Interim Administration in Libya". It also invited the NTC to reopen the Libyan Embassy in Gaborone Gaborone ' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana.... . On 11 September government invited NTC to reopen Libyas embassy in Botswana's capital. |
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| 79 |  Kazakhstan |
Recognised on 5 September 2011 | From 25 August Libyan embassy in Astana Astana Astana , formerly known as Akmola , Tselinograd and Akmolinsk , is the capital and second largest city of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 708,794 as of 1 August 2010... “is officially under flagship of the National Transition Council". In statement on 28 August Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry announced that "Kazakhstan ... is respectful to the choice and political will of Libyan people in this dramatic period" and called the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to aid Libya. On 5 September Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Sarybai received Charge d'Affaires of Libya Ahmed ad-Diba and informed him about Kazakhstan's decision to recognize NTC "as the country's acting government". |
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| 80 |  Central African Republic |
Recognised on 5 September 2011 | On 5 September Minister of Foreign Affairs Antoine Gambi announced in a statement on the national radio that his country recognised NTC "as legitimate interlocutor of the international community" and "the political body supposed to defend and protect the rights of the Libyan people." | |
| 81 |  Comoros |
Recognised on 5 September 2011 | On 5 September in phone interview for PANA the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Comoros, Aboubacar Shakur said that for government in Moroni Moroni -Places:*Moroni, Comoros, capital of the Comoros on the Grande Comore island.*Moroni, Utah-In the Latter-day Saint movement:*Moroni , a figure portrayed in the Book of Mormon as the son of Mormon and the book's last writer.... NTC "is the legitimate representative of the Libyan people." He added that their "position is governed by our membership in the League of Arab States and our solidarity with its position regarding the case of Libya." |
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| 82 |  Seychelles |
Recognised on 7 September 2011 | Minister of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles Jean-Paul Adam said in a statement that government in Victoria Victoria, Seychelles Victoria is the capital city of the Seychelles and is situated on the north-eastern side of Mahé island, which is the main island of the archipelago. The city was first established as the seat of the British colonial government... was moving to accredit the Libyan Embassy in the Seychelles to the National Transitional Council, thus recognising the council as the governing authority of Libya, because "the government feels that the TNC authorities are the best placed to represent the interests of the Libyan people and help the country take the necessary steps to achieving democracy". Adam said that "the best custodian of that progression is the TNC". |
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| 83 |  Ghana |
Recognised on 9 September 2011 | On 24 August, Gwede Mantashe Gwede Mantashe Gwede Mantashe is a South African politician, holding posts of ANC secretary general and chairperson of the South African Communist Party.- Posts :... , secretary general of South Africa’s ruling party African National Congress African National Congress The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a... , said that Ghana is considering recognition of NTC. The Ghana News Agency reported on 9 September that the Ghanaian government, citing "the NTC's effective control over a greater part of the country and the commitment of the NTC to democratic and pluralistic elections", had decided to diplomatically recognise the NTC. |
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| 84 |  People's Republic of China |
Recognised on 12 September 2011 | According to a Foreign Ministry statement from Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Qatar Qatar Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its... met and "exchanged views on developments in Libya" with Chairman Abdul-Jalil in early June. The statement provided no further details regarding the meeting. Later, on 22 June, Beijing stated that it viewed the NTC as a "major political force" and an "important dialogue partner". By mid-August 2011, according to the Financial Times Financial Times The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City.... , the PRC had a small "temporary delegation" stationed in Benghazi to maintain relations with the NTC, and Beijing may resume construction projects in the city. On 22 August the PRC foreign minister said that the PRC "respects [the] Libyan people's choice." The next day the employee of the Libyan embassy in Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... lowered the all-green flag used by the Gaddafi regime since 1977 and adopted the tricolour flag currently used by the NTC. On 12 September 2011 the PRC officially recognized the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya as the ruling authority and representative of the Libyan people. |
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| 85 |  Afghanistan |
Recognised on 13 September 2011 | In a statement, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said it recognised the National Transitional Council "as the legal representative of the Libyan people" in accordance with a ministerial resolution passed the previous day. | |
| 86 |  Vietnam |
Recognised on 14 September 2011 | Vietnam delegation at the United Nations gave the note to support the national transitional Council (NTC). The statement was made on 14 September by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi. "Vietnam respects all decisions made by the Libyan people and hopes the process of power transfer in Libya will take place smoothly, ensuring the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the North African country. Vietnam expects that the NTC and Libyan political forces will take effective measures to soon resume peace and stability in the country, and hold a general election for a government of national reconcile and harmony which represents the will and interests of the entire Libyan people, said the diplomat.Vietnam wishes to cooperate with the new government in an effort to boost the ties of friendship between the two countries, spokesman Nghi said, adding that Vietnam is ready to take part in the reconstruction of Libya within its capabilities." | |
| 87 |  Chile |
Recognised 16 September 2011 | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed it desire to promote the cooperation between Chile and "the new authorities" of Libya, taking account the "consolidation of a new political reality". | |
| 88 |  Costa Rica |
Recognised 16 September 2011 | On 16 September the government of Costa Rica recognised NTC in Libya as "legitimate representative" of the Libyan people. | |
| 89 |  India |
Recognised on 17 September 2011 | On 22 August, a group of Libyan expats replaced the green flag in the Libyan embassy in New Delhi New Delhi New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is... with the tricolour flag adopted by NTC. According to Deccan Herald Deccan Herald The Deccan Herald is a leading English-language daily newspaper distributed in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is published by the Printers Private Limited and has a number of editions in Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Mangalore and Gulbarga.... the Libyan diplomats under command of Second Secretary Jalal E Beram have taken control of the chancery and denied entry to embassy to the pro-Gaddafi staff led by charge d'affaires Ramadan El Baba.On 17 September 2011, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement "India extended support to the acceptance of credentials of the delegation of the Transitional National Council of Libya led by its President Mustafa Abdul Jalil to attend the forthcoming UN General Assembly session in New York." |
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| 90 |  Iran |
Recognised on 18 September 2011 | On 23 August the foreign minister of Islamic Republic of Iran congratulated Libyan insurgents taking of Tripoli and indicated that Iran “is prepared to share its experiences on the path to realising freedom, justice, ... and development ... with the brother nation of Libya”. Libyan embassy staff in Teheran is on "holiday". Two days later Libya's diplomatic mission declared its "complete solidarity with February 17" movement. On 30 August, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi Ali Akbar Salehi Ali Akbar Salehi is an Iranian politician, diplomat and academic and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs since 13 December 2010. Previous to his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran from 16 July 2009 to 13 December 2010... telephoned Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil Mustafa Abdul Jalil Mustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda... to congratulate him on "the victory of the Muslim people of Libya" and invite him to Tehran Tehran Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... . However, Salehi did not describe a change in Iranian recognition. The Iranian ambassador returned on 15 September to Tripoli. Iran voted for accreditation of the NTC's designated UN ambassador on 16 September, and on 18 September, a top Iranian MP declared that "Iran has officially recognized the Libyan Transitional Council" while expressing the government's "reservations" over the continued NATO operations in Libya. |
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| 91 |  South Africa |
Recognized on 20 September 2011 | In early June, President Jacob Zuma Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election.... said his administration was attempting to work with both the government in Tripoli Tripoli Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three... , which South Africa continues to recognise as the legitimate representative of Libya despite voting for military intervention at the United Nations Security Council United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of... , and the "rebels trying to oust [it]" to recover the remains of South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl Anton Hammerl Anton Hammerl was a South African freelance photojournalist. He was shot and killed by troops loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi while covering the 2011 Libyan civil war on April 5, 2011. Hammerl’s family, friends, and colleagues did not learn of his death until over a month later, on May 19, 2011... , one of several foreign journalists killed by forces loyal to Gaddafi during the Libyan civil war. On 22 August the South African government urged the "interim authority" in Tripoli to "institute ... political dialogue", but without specifically mentioning the NTC by name. On 20 September South Africa recognised the NTC, at the same time as the African Union officially recognised it. On 20 September, South Africa officially announced that they had recognized the NTC as the legitimate government of Libya, after previously being critical of the international community's recognition of them. |
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| 92 |  Uganda |
Recognised on 21 September 2011 | On 22 August, Ugandan International Relations Minister Henry Okello Oryem said, "Our relationship with Libya does not change. Uganda does not recognise individuals, but states. We shall continue to deal with Libya irrespective of who is in charge." Oryem said the Ugandan mission will stay in Tripoli just like the Libyan embassy remains in Kampala Kampala Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen... . On 28 August Libyans living in Uganda recognised the NTC as their government. After it the chairman of the Libyans in Uganda, Mohamed Ali Wahra, appealed to the government to recognise the rebels, what the government rejected. On 2 September Ugandan police blocked a rally in support of Libya's NTC, claiming demonstrations could trigger violence. On UNGA voting they abstained, but on meeting of Uganda delegation with Uganda vice-president Edward Ssekandi Edward Ssekandi Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi , is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Vice President of Uganda. He was appointed to that position on 24 May 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, a position he served in from 2001 until 2011... as head of delegation on 21 September they decided to recognise NTC "as the country's legitimate leadership and representative at the UN". On 20 October Uganda State Minister for International Affairs Henry Oryem-Okello announced that Uganda recognised NTC as de iure government of Libya. |
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| 93 |  Algeria |
Recognized on 22 September 2011 | Despite other statements condemning the no-fly zone, allegations of Algerian mercenaries fighting for Gaddafi and a history of good relations with Gaddafi's government, the foreign ministry of Algeria stated after a meeting with French diplomat Alain Juppe Alain Juppé Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011... that it "rejects analysis [sic] that put the Algerian position on the side of Gaddafi regime." Foreign Minister Medelci said furthermore that "the Algerian position toward the Libyan issue is compatible with those expressed by the AU African Union The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity... and the AL Arab League The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a... ...Algiers stick on the African roadmap to peacefully resolve the conflict in Libya." Medelci did state, however, that Algeria refused demands to cut relations with Gaddafi, saying that "Algeria has the full sovereignty to take alike decisions...We are among the few countries of which embassy is still opened in Tripoli, as long as Libya is a member in the bodies of the UN." Since 27 June there were many reports that Algeria may be in contact with NTC. The rebel flag was raised on 22 August over the Libyan embassy in Algerian capital. The earlier night Algerian embassy has objected a "series violations" and the staff escaped to United Nation mission. The Algerian Foreign Ministry said the country had opened channels of communication with the NTC and suggested it would normalise relations with the council if it apologised for earlier accusations against Algeria. However, on 25 August, Reuters Reuters Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data... reported that according to a high-ranking Algerian official, Algiers Algiers ' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000... would not recognise the NTC unless it made "a strong commitment" to fighting al Qaeda, a frequent foe of the Algerian government. A spokesman for the Algerian Foreign Ministry "categorically rejected" the report the next day after the government declared it would observe a policy of "strict neutrality" by refusing to recognise the NTC. However, on 1 September, Foreign Minister Medelci backpedaled, saying, "The National Transition Council has announced that it will soon be forming a government representative of all the regions of the country and once it does this we will recognise it." Algeria abstained from the United Nations General Assembly United Nations General Assembly For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation... vote on whether to recognise the NTC as the Libyan government on 16 September. Medelci was quoted by Al Arabiya Al Arabiya Al Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center .... as saying Algeria recognised the NTC on 22 September and was prepared to "work closely" with the new Libyan authorities. |
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| 94 |  Sweden |
Recognised on 24 September 2011 | In several statements to Swedish media during July/August, Foreign Secretary Carl Bildt Carl Bildt , Honorary KCMG is a Swedish politician, diplomat and nobleman. Formerly Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, Bildt has served as Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs since 6 October 2006... emphasised that the Swedish government does not recognise regimes, only states, and that Sweden then is in contact with the regime that controls the territory of the state. Upon a direct question, Bildt replied that Sweden had informal relations with the Transitional Council. On 11 August seven unidentified protesters broke into the Libyan embassy in Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area... and threatened to commit suicide if the police came in. The Swedish police tried to negotiate, but at the end they stormed the building and arrested the protesters. On 24 September, after voting in favour of accrediting the NTC's representative to the United Nations United Nations The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... days earlier, the Swedish government extended formal recognition to the NTC. Sweden was also the last EU country to recognize the NTC as Libya's only legitimate representative. |
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| 95 |  Kenya |
Recognised on 24 September 2011 | : Acting Foreign Affairs Minister George Saitoti George Saitoti Prof. George Kinuthia Saitoti is a Kenyan politician and mathematician who was Vice President of Kenya from 1989 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2002. He has been Minister for Internal Security since 2008 and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010.-Biography and education:George Saitoti is... said that his country is ready to "work with the people of Libya, the African Union and the international community to help build a new Libya", acknowledging the NTC as "the interim authority" and calling on it to hold an "immediate" national dialogue and new elections. On 26 August, Prime Minister Raila Odinga Raila Odinga Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,... called on Gaddafi to formally relinquish power, saying, "The war is over and Mr Gaddafi's side has lost. He should do the honourable thing now and let the people of Libya go." On nnight 28/29 August embassy of Kenya in Libya was ransacked. On 1 September, the Kenyan Foreign Ministry emailed the news station Voice of America Voice of America Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio... to disavow news reports that Kenya recognised the NTC, saying it is continuing to call for an inclusive unity government. On 2 September Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula Moses Wetangula Moses Masika Wetangula is a Kenyan politician and Member of Parliament representing Sirisia Constituency. He has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs since January 2008.-Early life:... said the looting of the Kenyan Ambassador’s residence in Tripoli was a “mere criminal act” and called on the NTC to negotiate with Gaddafi regime members. On 16 September Kenya representative in UN voted against accrediting the NTC to the NTC's representative of Libya, however after the new statement of African Union the Kenyan foreign minister Moses Wetang'ula announced that he had communicated the recognition of NTC to Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril in New York. On 30 September Libyan embassy in Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... hoisted new flag. |
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| 96 |  Switzerland |
Recognised on 29 September 2011 | On 9 March 2011, Federal President Micheline Calmy-Rey Micheline Calmy-Rey Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey is the President of the Confederation in Switzerland, head of government. She is also Switzerland's foreign minister as head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. She has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2003, and was President of the... met with a representative of the Libyan Transitional Council in Bern. According to a foreign ministry press release, Calmy-Rey and Council representative Jebril El-Waalfarvi discussed the situation in Libya. In the statement, Calmy-Rey "expressed her particular concern about the difficult conditions being experienced by the civilian population, which continues to be exposed to the targeted and abhorrent violence of the Libyan authorities. Switzerland will do all in its power to support civilian victims of the civil war with diplomatic and humanitarian aid". On 12 June, Switzerland dispatched an official envoy to Benghazi to "intensify its political relations with the Libyan National Transitional Council" and "signal its intent to strengthen its presence there". Switzerland did not explicitly recognise the NTC, however it did state that "until the establishment of a legally elected government, the Transitional Council in Benghazi is the only legitimate partner of Switzerland in Libya" . Previously, relations with Gaddafi had already been cut long before, and there had been humanitarian aid coordinated with the NTC for four months. On 22 August, while addressing a conference in Lucerne Lucerne Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and... , Calmy-Rey confirmed that Switzerland had not recognised the NTC because the Swiss government's policy is to recognise states and not governments, but it will continue to deal exclusively with the NTC as its partner in Libya until the election of a new government. Swiss representative in UN voted in favour of NTC. On 29 September Swiss foreign minister announced that Michel Gottret has been appointed as new ambassador to the "new Libyan government". From the libyan side the NTC have sended their own new ambassador - Sliman Bouchuiguir - who presented his credentials to Swiss president at the same day. |
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| 97 |  Jamaica |
Recognised on 29 September 2011 | On UNGA voted in favour. On 29 September Minister for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz Daryl Vaz Daryl Vaz is a Jamaican politician. He has been the Minister of Information and Telecommunications in Jamaica since March 2009.He was born in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica to Douglas and Sonia Vaz... said that goverment in Kingston Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island... decided to recognise the NTC as "the legitimate representative of Libya". |
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| 98 |  Somalia |
Recognised on 30 September 2011 | The representative of Somali was absent at UNGA voting, but on 30 September ministers of Transitional Federal Government Transitional Federal Government The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional... headed by Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali is a Somali economist and politician. He is the Prime Minister of Somalia.-Personal life:Ali is originally from the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia. He holds both Somali and American citizenship.... at ordinary weekly meeting in Mogadishu Mogadishu Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries.... decided to recognise NTC as "as the rightful representative of the people". |
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| 99 |  Bangladesh |
Recognised on 13 October 2011 | On 21 February, the Libyan Ambassador to Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... , Ahmad Ateya Hamd Al-Imam, resigned as a protest against the Gaddafi government. On 25 August, the embassy defected en masse by pledging their allegiance to the people of Libya, as represented by the NTC, and removed Gaddafi's portraits and the green flag. Bangladesh on 13 October officially recognized Libya’s new leadership as "the only acceptable interim authority," a statement from the Foreign Ministry said. |
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| 100 |  Pakistan |
Recognised on 3 November 2011 | On 25 August the Libyan Embassy in Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011... has raised the rebel flag above its buildings. On 8 September in an interview for local Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune The Express Tribune The Express Tribune is the first internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan, in partnership with The International Herald Tribune, the global edition of The New York Times.... an official from Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Ministry will officially recognise the NTC as the sole representative of the Libyan people. He added also that before recognizing Pakistan will consult Saudi Arabia and other allies in Middle East. On 15 September NTC warned Pakistan that if it not recognise NTC it will not revalidate residential visas of Pakistan diplomats. The source added that Pakistan government decided to not recognise NTC until "Col Qaddafi is holding the gun". At UNGA voting to aprove the NTC credentials at UN the Pakistani representative was absent. On 15 October one of the senators from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz - the party that supported the nomination of current prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani - asked government to recognise the NTC. On the next day prime minister on the question of the journalist in Lahore Lahore Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a... about the letter from 15 October answered that he "took the decision to accord recognition four days ago", but the government formally decided about recognition on 3 November. |
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| 101 |  Mauritania |
Recognised on 25 November 2011 | The Rally of Democratic Forces Rally of Democratic Forces The Rally of Democratic Forces is a political party in Mauritania. It is led by Ahmed Ould Daddah.In October 2000, the Union of Democratic Forces-New Era, which was led by Daddah, was dissolved by the government for allegedly inciting violence and harming the country's interests... , Mauritania's main opposition party, recognised the National Transitional Council as "the only legitimate representative of the Libyan people" in late May 2011. The status of relations between Nouakchott Nouakchott -Government:The town was first divided into districts in 1973. First it was divided into four. From 1986, the city has been split into nine districts.* Arafat* Dar Naim* El Mina* Ksar* Riad* Sebkha* Tevragh-Zeina* Teyarett* Toujounine... and both Tripoli and Benghazi is unclear, as President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is a Mauritanian politician, currently serving as President of Mauritania... has called for Gaddafi's departure but has not publicly addressed the question of the council's legitimacy. In July, Foreign Minister Hamadi Ould Hamadi met with representatives of both the Gaddafi government in Tripoli and the NTC in Benghazi, and in early August, the NTC dispatched a special envoy to Nouakchott Nouakchott -Government:The town was first divided into districts in 1973. First it was divided into four. From 1986, the city has been split into nine districts.* Arafat* Dar Naim* El Mina* Ksar* Riad* Sebkha* Tevragh-Zeina* Teyarett* Toujounine... to personally thank President Abdel Aziz for his leadership. On 22 August demonstrators came into Libyan embassy in Nouakchott and tore down the green Gaddafi flag, replacing it with the tricolour Libyan flag. Several Mauritanian political parties issued statements congratulating Libya, including the Democratic Convergence Party and ruling Union for the Republic Party. On 25 November Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation announced that government of the country officially recognised NTC. |
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| Other countries, who on 16 September 2011 voted "in favour" of accepting NTC credentials as Libya representative at the UNGA. | ||||
 Brazil |
Informal relations Unofficial Recognition UNGA vote in favour of NTC |
On 19 August, the Libyan embassy in Brasilia Brasília Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the... was stormed by supporters of the rebels to replace the flag of Libya with the NTC flag in an attempt in which they failed. The supporters came back three days later and occupied the building. The same day pro-Gaddafi Libyan ambassador to Brazil, Salem al-Zubaidi, said he will remain in his post, because Brazilian authorities still consider him as an ambassador. On 22 August, the Brazilian press stated that the country's government is consulting the Arab League Arab League The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a... , the African Union African Union The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity... , India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... , and the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... in order to evaluate if Brazil will recognise the rebel government as Libya's legitimate government. On 25 August, the Libyan ambassador to Brazil, Salem al-Zubaidi, said that he supports the rebel government. Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota Antonio Patriota Antonio de Aguiar Patriota is a Brazilian diplomat and current Minister of External Relations, succeeding Chancellor Celso Amorim... said on 2 September that Brazil's decision to participate in the Libya Contact Group Libya Contact Group The Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in... conference in Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... the previous day "implies that we consider the transitional council an interlocutor in this process", though he said Brazil would not recognise the NTC as Libya's sole legitimate representative until the United Nations United Nations The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... votes to accredit it. Although Brazil had not officially recognized the NTC, it was one of the countries that voted favorable to recognize it as the owner of Libya's seat at the United Nations during the Assembly, voted on 16 September 2011, and Juan Oliveira Bonfim, a member of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that it unnoficialy recognizes the NTC, but is waiting for the new Libyan government to establish itself properly before announcing it. |
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 Georgia (country) |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on 23 August expressing support for the NTC and hope that it would soon succeed in ousting Gaddafi and ushering in a democratic transition. | ||
 Iceland |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 3 June Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Össur Skarphéðinsson Össur Skarphéðinsson Össur Skarphéðinsson is an Icelandic politician who has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since February 2009.Össur matriculated from the Reykjavík Grammar School in 1973, and gained a BS in Biology from the University of Iceland in 1979, and a doctorate in physiology from the University of East... , met with one of the NTC's representatives in the UK. The minister said, "The people of Libya should have the right to choose their leaders in democratic elections and to build a society where freedom and human dignity prevail. We stand by the National Transitional Council of Libya in its campaign for these goals." Iceland is also the only NATO member to not have officially recognised the NTC. |
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 Mexico |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 23 August Charge de Affairs of Libya's embassy in Mexico Ahmed Elhafi said that Mexican government is expected to formally recognise the council. | ||
 Singapore |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 13 September, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry noted that the NTC had taken control of most of Libya, including Tripoli Tripoli Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three... , and said Singapore "fully supports" Indonesia Indonesia Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an... n Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa Marty Natalegawa Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, more commonly known as Marty Natalegawa, is an Indonesian diplomat and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Second United Indonesia Cabinet... 's statement expressing ASEAN's endorsement of "on-going efforts involving the National Transitional Council to promote reconciliation and build a democratic and stable Libya in accordance with the aspirations and wishes of the Libyan people". |
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 Syria |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 22 August Libyan diplomats declared formal adherence to the National Transitional Council. “The National Transitional Council has decided after a meeting today to recognise the Syrian National Council Syrian National Council The Syrian National Council or SNC is a Syrian opposition coalition created during the 2011 Syrian uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad.-Background:... as the sole legitimate government in Syria,” said NTC member Mussa al-Koni at news conference in Tripoli. |
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 Yemen |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 22 August Yemen's government withdrew its delegation to the Arab League to avoid recognising the NTC. On 2 September Libyan diplomats hoisted the rebel flag above the embassy in Sana'a Sana'a -Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:... . |
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 Sri Lanka |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 22 October External Affairs Ministry spokesman said that Sri Lanka’s embassy in Libyan will remain closed despite the death of Gaddafi, but assured that "The Sri Lankan government will continue to help the people of Libya rebuild their lives after a damaging war". | ||
 Argentina |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | On 23 August Libyan embassy in Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... recognised NTC as "the legitimate authority" of the represented country. |
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 Guatemala |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Belize |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Saint Lucia |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Peru |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Paraguay |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Moldova |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Andorra |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Liechtenstein |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Monaco |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 San Marino |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Israel |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Madagascar |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
| UNGA vote in favour of NTC | ||||
 Mauritius |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Thailand |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Brunei |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 East Timor |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Vanuatu |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
 Fiji |
UNGA vote in favour of NTC | |||
Non-UN member governments
| Entity | Date/Status of recognition Diplomatic recognition Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state... |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  State of Palestine |
Recognised on 22 August 2011 | A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Mahmoud Abbas Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally... said the PA as well as the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Liberation Organization had recognised the NTC as Libya's legitimate government. |
| 2 |  Republic of Kosovo |
Recognised on 27 August 2011 | On 22 August, the Foreign Ministry of Kosovo said it would work with the NTC and hoped it would recognise Kosovo's independence soon, something Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a... 's government had refused to do. Five days later, Kosovar Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj Enver Hoxhaj Enver Hoxhaj is the current Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo and a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo.-Career:He was previously Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Kosovo. He previously served as a professor at the University of Pristina... sent a letter to Mahmoud Jibril Mahmoud Jibril Mahmoud Jibril el-Warfally , also transcribed Jabril or Jebril or Gebril, is a Libyan politician who served as the interim Prime Minister of Libya for seven and a half months during the 2011 Libyan civil war, chairing the executive board of the National Transitional Council from 5 March 2011 to 23... congratulating him on his faction's success and informing him that Kosovo recognizes the NTC as Libya's "legitimate authority". |
| 3 |  Republic of China |
Recognised on 16 September 2011 | On 16 September, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announced recognition of the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya. |
| 4 |  Vatican City |
Recognised on 20 October 2011 | After the conclusion of the Battle of Sirte Battle of Sirte (2011) The Battle of Sirte was a battle of the 2011 Libyan civil war that began when the National Liberation Army attacked forces loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi in his hometown and designated capital of Sirte, on the Gulf of Sidra... , the Vatican press office released a statement acknowledging the end of a "long and tragic" fight against Gaddafi's "cruel and oppressive regime" and recognising the NTC as Libya's legitimate authority in the wake of Gaddafi's death. |
Countries that have voted against NTC credentials acceptance at the UNGA
Cuba and South American members of ALBA adopted statements against the NTC or in support of the Gaddafi government, and at the UNGA voted against the NTC.Most of the SADC
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana. Its goal is to further socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states...
members, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea (AU
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
chair at the time of voting) adopted statements about "all-inclusive government", unsuccessfully proposed to postpone the UNGA vote and subsequently voted against the NTC.
- Foreign minister David ChoquehuancaDavid ChoquehuancaDavid Choquehuanca Céspedes is a Bolivian politician. He has served as the Foreign Minister of Bolivia since 23 January 2006.Choquehuanca, who is an Aymara Indian, is an Aymara activist...
said on 9 September that Bolivia does not endorse the NTC and condemned "the actions of NATO in Libya". Choquehanca insisted Bolivia will "not recognize any transitional authority". - On 3 September the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a communique that Cuba is withdrawing its ambassador from Libya, because it does not recognise the transitional government. The statement warned, "Cuba does not recognize the National Transition Council or any provisional authority and will only recognize a government that is established legitimately and without foreign intervention, via the free, sovereign will of the Libyan people," and strongly criticised the NATO intervention and "the deployment of diplomatic and operative personnel in the field" by the NTC's international allies. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno RodriguezBruno RodriguezBruno Rodriguez is a retired French footballer. He played as a striker.Rodriguez spent most of his career in France except for two short, unsuccessful loan spells at Bradford City in 1999 and Rayo Vallecano in 2001....
repeated the statement at the meeting of foreign ministers of Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas on 9 September in CaracasCaracasCaracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
.
- On 27 August, Deputy Foreign Minister Kintto Lucas said QuitoQuitoSan Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
would not recognise "a transition junta" until "the people declare it legitimate". Lucas added that the NTC was not a "real" government and so the Ecuadorian government could not recognise it. Lucas reiterated the government's position on 20 October, saying, "We do not recognize the NTC and we will continue in that line."
- Between 5 and 9 September the Libyan embassy in MaseruMaseruMaseru is the capital of Lesotho. It is also the capital of the Maseru District. Located on the Caledon River, bordering South Africa, Maseru is Lesotho's only sizable city, with a population of approximately 227,880 . The city was established as a police camp and assigned as the capital after the...
hoisted a second flag - the NTC flag. Foreign Affairs Minister Mohlabi TsekoaMohlabi TsekoaMohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho. He has served in the Cabinet since July 2001, first as Finance Minister, then as Foreign Minister, Minister of Education, and since March 2007 as Foreign Minister again....
said that it is too early to declare Lesotho's stance as a country.
- On 22 August, the head of the Libyan embassy in WindhoekWindhoekWindhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, Salem Mohamed Krayem, decided to defect from the Gaddafi regime. Namibian officials such as Theo-Ben GurirabTheo-Ben GurirabTheo-Ben Gurirab is a Namibian politician who has been the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia since 2005; previously he was Prime Minister of Namibia from August 27, 2002 to March 19, 2005.-Political career:...
, the Speaker of the National Assembly of NamibiaNational Assembly of NamibiaThe National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It has a total of 78 members. 72 members are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms. Six additional members are appointed by the President.The...
, have made conflicting statements. In March, Gurirab said he supported Gaddafi because "Africans [...] believe in existential friendship: once a friend, always a friend". In August, he said Gaddafi has lost "his vigilance on the red carpet, doing the danger dance, which doesn’t stop". On 23 August Namibian Foreign Affairs Minister Utoni NujomaUtoni NujomaUtoni Daniel Nujoma is a Namibian politician. He is the son of Sam Nujoma, who was President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005, and was Deputy Minister of Justice until being appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2010...
said officially, Namibia still has diplomatic relations with the Gaddafi government. On 22 September main opposition party - Rally for Democracy and ProgressRally for Democracy and Progress (Namibia)The Rally for Democracy and Progress is an opposition political party in Namibia. It was launched on November 17 2007 under the leadership of Hidipo Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu, both former leading members of the ruling SWAPO party and cabinet ministers. Hamutenya had unsuccessfully sought the SWAPO...
- recognised NTC, when the government decided not to recognise until democratic elections are held. - On 3 September, the President Daniel OrtegaDaniel OrtegaJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
said that it refused to recognise the National Transitional Council of Libya.
- Foreign Minister Bernard MembeBernard MembeBernard Kamillius Membe is a Tanzanian politician, currently serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Membe was appointed to the job by President Jakaya Kikwete in January 2007 after the previous Foreign Minister, Asha-Rose Migiro, left for the job of United...
said on 28 August that the Tanzanian government supports the AU's decision not to recognise the NTC, but said his government will recognise the NTC if it takes over the Gaddafi government's remaining strongholds and establishes executive, legislative, and judicial organs for the whole country. Otherwise, he said DodomaDodomaDodoma , officially Dodoma Urban District, population 324,347 , is the national capital of Tanzania, and the capital of the Dodoma region. In 1973, plans were made to move the capital to Dodoma...
will hold off on recognising a new government of Libya until nationwide elections are held. The Libyan Embassy has taken down the rebel flag after hoisting it the embassy buildings in Dar es SalaamDar es SalaamDar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
on 27 August. The flag was removed before the 48-hour ultimatum given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation ended. The green flag was not hoisted again. The Embassy also apologised the Tanzanian government. Bernard MembeBernard MembeBernard Kamillius Membe is a Tanzanian politician, currently serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Membe was appointed to the job by President Jakaya Kikwete in January 2007 after the previous Foreign Minister, Asha-Rose Migiro, left for the job of United...
, Minister of International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs of Tanzania, said on 30 September that contacts between the NTC and the Government of Tanzania are "underway to normalize". On 9 November Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania said that his country will not recognise NTC unless the Libyan government will fulfill conditions set by the Africa Union. - In March, the government of President Hugo ChavezHugo ChávezHugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
said that it refused to recognise the Benghazi government and insisted that only the previous government was legitimate. Reinaldo Bolivar, Venezuela's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for Africa, also insisted that "there were no problems until a coalition of US and European countries began the shelling", and expressed his support for a "diplomatic solution to the crisis". On 23 August, as major rebel successes on the battlefield including in Tripoli coincided with a wave of recognitions for the NTC, Chavez again stated that he would only recognise the government of Gaddafi. Chavez also accused the West of "kicking" and "spitting" on "the most basic elements of international law" (remarking that "This is like the caveman era"), and saying the United States "arranged this war. They provided the arms, the mercenaries. They better not attempt to apply the Libyan formula to Venezuela or we'll have to show them our power." On 25 August President denounced about the latest attack against his country's embassy in Libya on 24 August, but the attack on embassy is disputed by some reporters on place. On 26 October president Chavez said that "For us, there is no government in Libya" and "We don't recognize the government that NATO has installed." - On 3 November Foreign Minister Chishimba Kambwili said that Government is waiting for Cabinet approval to recognise the new Libyan government and then Zambia will reopen its embassy in Libya, because "if the people of Libya have agreed to change government then we will respect that".
- On 24 August, the Libyan embassy staff in HarareHarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
declared they would "follow the Libyan majority" and declare allegiance to the NTC, pulling down the green flag, raising the tricolour, and destroying portraits and posters of Muammar GaddafiMuammar GaddafiMuammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
. On 25 August, Zimbabwe's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that country's government no longer recognises Libyan Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi because of his defection, and Elmagrahi may face expulsion from Zimbabwe. "We do not have diplomatic relations with NTC and the hoisting of its flag here is actually illegal," Foreign Affairs Secretary Joey Bimha said. Bimha said ZANU-PF, Zimbabwe's ruling party, would refuse to recognise the NTC because in its view, "Gaddafi remains the legitimate representative of the people of Libya." On 26 August, Foreign Minister Simbarashe MumbengegwiSimbarashe MumbengegwiSimbarashe Simbaneduku Mumbengegwi is a Zimbabwean politician and diplomat, currently serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs whose right to entry is currently prohibited by Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and the United States. Mumbengegwi was born in Chivi, Zimbabwe...
declared Elmagrahi persona non grata and ordered him and his family to leave Zimbabwe within five days. On 1 September Zimbabwean police arrested foreign journalists in the Libyan embassy. Next day staff of embassy of Libya sought refuge in Botswana. The expulsion has broken the fragile coalition between Robert Mugabe and the Prime Minister Morgan TsvangiraiMorgan TsvangiraiMorgan Richard Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009...
, who said: "My position is it is not up to Zimbabwe to decide what the sovereign right is of the Libyans. It is up to the Libyans to choose their representatives." On 15 September the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Makhula said that Libyan ambassador and his staff were not expelled, but "simply asked to go back to Libya and receive credentials from the new authority since the NTC had no diplomatic mandate at this stage to assign ambassadors to other countries".
Countries that abstained at the UNGA vote
: On 9 September the representative of this country at the sixth Political Council of Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas in Caracas agreed with other member states to not recognise the NTC.- On 22 August Libyan embassy "members shifted their loyalty en masse from Gaddafi to the rebel-led National Transitional Council (NTC)". On 23 August Foreign Affairs Minister Marty NatalegawaMarty NatalegawaRaden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, more commonly known as Marty Natalegawa, is an Indonesian diplomat and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Second United Indonesia Cabinet...
said that he hails the choice made by the people of Libya. On 3 September FM said in a statement that "Indonesia supports the National Transition Council’s efforts to roll out a democratic transition in a peaceful manner". On 21 October Helmi Fauzi, one of the members of the Indonesian People's Consultative AssemblyPeople's Consultative AssemblyThe People's Consultative Assembly is the legislative branch in Indonesia's political system. It is composed of the members of the People's Representative Council and the Regional Representative Council. Before 2004, and the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the MPR was the highest governing...
urged the government of President Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang YudhoyonoSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
to recognise NTC. - On 29 August president Amadou Toumani TouréAmadou Toumani TouréAmadou Toumani Touré is the president of Mali. He overthrew a military ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year...
leaved out an information: "The issue is not to recognize or not the NTC, since the NTC took power. The important thing to know is that the National Transitional Council may propose to the Libyan people democratic change." On 3 September at interview president Touré said: "Recognition (of NTC by BamakoBamakoBamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
) is a matter of time."
- On 9 September the representative of this country at the sixth Political Council of Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas in Caracas agreed with other member states to not recognise the NTC. On 30 September St. Vincent and the Grenadines foreign minister Douglas Slater said that its government decided to put its ralations with Libya "on hold" until it will be satisfied that “there is a legitimate, proper established government”.
- On 23 August the staff of Libyan embassy in RiyadhRiyadhRiyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
and the consulate in JeddahJeddahJeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
decided to announce that they are shifting their allegiance to the anti-Gaddafi revolutionaries and unfurl the new flag next day.
Other UN members who were absent for the NTC vote
: On 22 August, the Libyan embassy in MinskMinsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
lowered the green flag and raised the tricolour adopted by the NTC.
- On 30 August an official of North Korean embassy in Libya answered on the question about recognition that PyongyangPyongyangPyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
must "wait and see" to recognise NTC. The unnamed source said that he believes that N. Korea "is refusing to recognize Libya's National Transitional Council as the legitimate government", due to North Korea's support for the Gaddafi regime. - On 9 September the representative of this country at the sixth Political Council of Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas in Caracas agreed with other member states to not recognise the NTC.
- President Isaias AfewerkiIsaias AfewerkiIsaias Afewerki is the first and current President of Eritrea, attaining that status when he led the Eritrean People's Liberation Front to victory in May 1991, thus ending the 30-year old armed liberation struggle that the Eritrean people refer to as "Gedli".-Early life and rise to power:Afewerki...
was quoted by the Ministry of Information on 27 May as saying, "How can one recognize a parliament confined to the urban borders of Benghazi?" On 10 June, he was quoted as saying in reference to the NTC, "There are no legal grounds by which external powers can have a say in determining or recognizing factions or parties within a state as legitimate or illegitimate. Any attempts in that direction can be construed as overriding the rights and will of the people."
- On 3 September, the Libyan embassy in BissauBissauBissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...
hoisted the new flag of Libya, but removed it almost a week later on 9 September.
- On 14 June Liberian president Ellen Johnson-SirleafEllen Johnson-SirleafEllen Johnson Sirleaf is the 24th and current President of Liberia. She served as Minister of Finance under President William Tolbert from 1979 until the 1980 coup d'état, after which she left Liberia and held senior positions at various financial institutions. She placed a very distant second in...
announced that "the Government of Colonel Gaddafi has lost the legitimacy to govern Libya", so the Liberian government decided to severe diplomatic relations with Libya by withdrawing its envoy in Tripoli and suspending the activity of the Libyan representation in MonroviaMonroviaMonrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
. She also added that they can be resumed when "the people of Libya reach a political settlement which offers the best hope of lasting peace".
- At the end of August, the Libyan embassy in MaputoMaputoMaputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
raised the NTC flag over its buildings. At the beginning of September the Libya national basketball teamLibya national basketball teamThe Libyan national basketball team represents Libya in international basketball matches and is controlled by the Kurat As-Sallah al-Leebiyyah...
, in Mozambique at the All-Africa GamesBasketball at the All-Africa GamesBasketball has been an All-Africa Games event since the first edition in 1965 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.- Summaries :- Participating nations :- Summaries :- Participating nations :- Total :- Medal table, men :...
, and the Libya national football teamLibya national football teamThe Libya national football team is the national association football team of Libya and is controlled by the Libyan Football Federation. The team has never qualified for the senior FIFA World Cup. They have qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, one in 1982 where they finished runners-up and...
, in Mozambique for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, were playing under the NTC flag.
- On 11 June the opposition party People's Democratic League called on "government of Sierra Leone, led by President Ernest Bai Koroma to state publicly Sierra Leonean peoples solidarity and support for Libya against NATO terrorism" and not to recognise NTC. On 30 August Libyan embassy in FreetownFreetownFreetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
pulled down the green flag of Libya, but not hoisted the new flag, what is reflecting the policy propagated by the host country, which government spokesperson Silvester Swareh said that "this government upholds and stands by any decision that the AU takes".
- The Libyan mission in Ashgabat defected from Gaddafi shortly after the start of the Battle of TripoliBattle of Tripoli (2011)The Battle of Tripoli was a military confrontation in Tripoli, Libya, between loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi, the longtime leader of Libya, and the National Transitional Council, which was attempting to overthrow Gaddafi and take control of the capital...
. The head diplomat expressed support for the NTC and the revolution.
Other non-UN member governments
: On 26 August, the Sahrawi government and the Polisario FrontPolisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
issued a joint statement rebutting claims that 556 Polisario mercenaries were arrested in Libya, blaming the report on Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
propaganda. The statement asked "the new Libyan authorities, represented by the Transitional National Council", to immediately disavow the claims.
International organisations
Several international organisations have formed a relationship with the National Transitional Council in Benghazi, and the NTC has been formally accredited as Libya's legitimate representative by some of them.- African UnionAfrican UnionThe African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
: The AU has repeatedly urged both sides in the civil war2011 Libyan civil warThe 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
to exercise "restraint" and has declared its opposition to violence as a means of resolving the conflict. A delegation of African heads of state representing the AU met with representatives of the rival governments of Gaddafi and the NTC in April 2011 to present a peace plan. Though Tripoli accepted the plan, the NTC rejected it over its failure to stipulate Gaddafi's relinquishment of power. The AU presented a new framework in early July with many of the same features of the rejected "roadmap", again calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations brokered by the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and the AU ad hoc committee, which includes CongoRepublic of the CongoThe Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
–BrazzavilleBrazzaville-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
President Denis Sassou NguessoDenis Sassou NguessoDenis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
, MaliMaliMali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
an President Amadou Toumani TouréAmadou Toumani TouréAmadou Toumani Touré is the president of Mali. He overthrew a military ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year...
, MauritaniaMauritaniaMauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
n President Mohamed Ould Abdel AzizMohamed Ould Abdel AzizGeneral Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is a Mauritanian politician, currently serving as President of Mauritania...
, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n President Jacob ZumaJacob ZumaJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
, and UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n President Yoweri MuseveniYoweri MuseveniYoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
. On 22 August, the African Union Commission recognised the NTC "as the country’s legitimate representative". However, on 26 August, the AU Peace and Security CouncilPeace and Security CouncilThe Peace and Security Council is the organ of the African Union in charge of enforcing union decisions. It is patterned somewhat after the United Nations Security Council....
reportedly decided that the AU would not recognise the NTC and would insist on the formation of a unity government that includes Gaddafi loyalists. AU Commission Chairperson Jean PingJean PingJean Ping is a Gabonese diplomat and politician who is currently the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union...
said on 29 August that "seat is waiting for [the NTC] in the African Union ... for the new Transitional Authorities", but it had to form a unity government first. He also disparaged recent alleged hate crimeHate crimeIn crime and law, hate crimes occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, social status or...
s against black peopleBlack peopleThe term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
in Libya, saying, "The TNC seems to confuse black people with mercenaries." On 20 October AU lifted its suspension of Libya's membership in the organisation and said that it "would set up a liaison office in Tripoli".
- Reports indicate that the Arab League had been involved in a move by "a European leader close to Gaddafi" to encourage Gaddafi to leave Libya in return for him not being prosecuted for his actions against the population. The Arab League voted for a no-fly zone at a special meeting in Cairo. The National Transitional Council was said to have given its consent, and Amr MoussaAmr MoussaAmr Mohammed Moussa is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the Secretary-General of the Arab League, a 22-member forum representing Arab states, from 1 June 2001 until 1 June 2011. He is a candidate in the 2011 Egyptian presidential election....
, secretary general of the Arab League had been speaking to the National Transitional Council's head, Mustafa Abdul JalilMustafa Abdul JalilMustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda...
, for the first time. Following a special meeting of foreign ministers held on 12 March 2011, the Arab League voted to ask the United Nations to establish a no-fly zone over Libya. The league also declared that the Gaddafi regime had "lost its legitimacy" and that it would instead "cooperate with the national council". Libya was suspended from the proceedings of the Arab League. On 23 August, the Arab League decided to give Libya a seat at its next meeting, which Secretary-General Naril Elaraby offered to the NTC "as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people" two days later. On 27 August the Arab League, at its meeting of Foreign ministers in Cairo and in presence of the NTC's number two, Prime Minister and de facto Foreign Minister Mahmoud Jibril, formally readmitted Libya, turning over the country's seat to the NTC and effectively recognising the hitherto rebel body as the legitimate authority in Libya.
Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas: President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez invited to CaracasCaracasCaracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
on 9 September countries of the BAA to "to draft a statement likely opposing the rebel-led reconstruction." On 9 September the members decided to recognise only Gaddafi as the legitimate representative of Libya.
- On 24 October, CARICOM Chairman Denzil L. Douglas, the prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, acknowledged "the People of Libya" as being "presently led by the interim National Transitional Council (NTC)".
- EU leaders at a summit expressed political backing for the Libyan National Council. The Commission President José Manuel Barroso stated that "The problem has a name: Gaddafi. He must go". EU leaders also announced it would cut off all ties with Gaddafi and would instead deal with the council. After a meeting between Clinton and representatives of the council, the EU and the U.S have decided to talk to the council without officially recognising them, in order to seek further information on the group and its goals. During his visit to Benghazi on 11 May, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that the EU recognised the interim rebel council as a “legitimate interlocutor”. This visit was agreed with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Accrding to Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Libyan Interim Transitional National Council is "recognized by the European Union and a vast majority of the international community as the right partner for political contacts in Libya." On 22 May, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton opened the EU Office in Benghazi and met with the Chairman of the transitional National Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil.
- The GCC has issued a statement that Gaddafi and his regime has lost legitimacy and that the GCC will form a relationship with the National Transitional Council.
International Monetary FundInternational Monetary FundThe International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
: At the weekly IMF news conference on 26 August 2011, Spokesman David Hawley informed reporters that the Fund is monitoring the situation in Libya and that "When there is a clear, broad-based international recognition of a new government in Libya, it's at that point that the Fund could or would move toward recognition... The nature of our engagement going forward will depend on the wishes of any internationally recognised government in the country. So to underline, we're following events". Christine Lagarde said on 10 September that the "IMF membership recognized the National Transition Council as the new government of Libya."
- On 22 June OIC send a delegation to Benghazi and Tripoli to hold consultations with fighting sides. On 13 July OIC have send another delegation "to hold talks with the National Transitional Council in Benghazi." On 25 August IOC delegation took part in the fifth meeting of Libya Contact Group, where "participants ... agreed to deal with the National Transitional Council as the legitimate governing authority in Libya". In a speech on 3 September, Secretary General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğluEkmeleddin IhsanogluEkmeleddin İhsanoğlu is a Turkish academic, diplomat and currently the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations...
said the OIC recognised the NTC "as the only legitimate authority in Libya".
- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries: On 6 September Dow Jones Newswires
Dow Jones NewswiresDow Jones Newswires is the real-time financial news organization owned by Dow Jones . Founded in 1882, its primary competitors are Bloomberg L.P. and Thomson Reuters. The company reports more than 300,000 subscribers -- including brokers, traders, analysts and fund managers -- as of July 2011.-...
appeared an article reporting that OPEC members are waiting on United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
resolution to recognise NTC as legitimate government, which they did at 19 September.
- A press release issued by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moonBan Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
on 26 August 2011 made references to the "new Libyan authorities" and stated that $1.5 billion in Gaddafi regime assets will be released to "the authorities Transitional National Council (TNC)". Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose MigiroAsha-Rose MigiroAsha-Rose Mtengeti Migiro is a Tanzanian lawyer and politician. On January 5, 2007, she was named as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. She was formally appointed and assumed office on February 1. She is married to Cleophas Migiro, and the couple has two daughters...
also made references to "the new leadership". A further press release issued on 30 August 2011 made references to "Libya’s transitional authorities" Following a meeting between senior members of the NTC and Ian MartinIan MartinIan Martin, from the United Kingdom, is a human rights activist who has been involved in a number of human rights organisations. He was the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal for the United Nations Mission in Nepal from 2007 to 2009....
, the representative of the Secretary-General for post-conflict planning in Libya, the official press release again referred to the NCT as "the new Libyan authorities". The General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
voted by a tally of 114 for and 17 against to give Libya's UN seat to the NTC on 16 September. The General Assembly's Credentials Committee had earlier recommended that the NTC's credentials to the seat be accepted. AngolaAngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
led the resistance to the NTC's recognition, arguing that proper process had not been followed in the presentation and acceptance of the NTC's credentials. VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and BoliviaBoliviaBolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
also opposed the NTC's recognition. Egypt, Libya's eastern neighbour, supported recognising the NTC.
World BankWorld BankThe World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
: On 13 September, the Bank released a statement announcing that "it is engaging with the National Transitional Council as the Government of Libya".
- World Organization of Libyan Jews: On 17 July 2011, the group of 200,000 JewishJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
refugees and ex-refugees from Libya, most of whom now reside in IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, sent a letter to National Transitional CouncilNational Transitional CouncilThe National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
Chairman Mustafa Abdul JalilMustafa Abdul JalilMustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda...
recognising the council as the legitimate government of Libya. The group appointed established NTC proponent David Gerbi, an Italian Libyan, as its permanent representative in Benghazi, though Abdul Jalil asked that Gerbi postpone his arrival in Benghazi "until the end of the revolution". The ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
foreign ministry reported that the letter was "well received" by the NTC. Gerbi visited the Nafusa Mountains in August and September, where he was received by Amazigh representatives, and is reportedly planning to meet with Abdul Jalil in TripoliTripoliTripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
later in the month.
Individuals
The following individuals have expressed their support for the council:- Ibrahim Al-Dabashi, Deputy Libyan ambassador to the U.N, has stated that he is now representing the National Transitional Council.
- Mohammed El Senussi, current PretenderPretenderA pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the Libyan ThroneKingdom of LibyaThe Kingdom of Libya, originally called the United Libyan Kingdom came into existence upon independence on 24 December 1951 and lasted until a coup d'état led by Muammar Gaddafi on 1 September 1969 overthrew King Idris of Libya and established the Libyan Arab Republic.- Constitution :Under the...
, stated he supports the National Transitional Council as long as they continue to act in the best interest of the Libyan people. - Yusuf al-QaradawiYusuf al-QaradawiYusuf al-Qaradawi is a controversial Egyptian Islamic theologian. He is best known for his programme, ash-Shariah wal-Hayat , broadcast on Al Jazeera, which has an estimated audience of 60 million worldwide...
, Egyptian Islamist Sheikh, declared his support for the rebels led by the Council in the 2011 Libyan civil war2011 Libyan civil warThe 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, urging Arab nations to recognise the Council and “to confront the tyranny of the regime in Tripoli". He suggested weapons be sent to the rebels to assist them, and said “Our Islamic nation should stand against injustice and corruption and I urge the Egyptian government to extend a helping hand to Libyan people and not to Gaddafi.”
See also
- International reactions to the 2011 Libyan civil warInternational reactions to the 2011 Libyan civil warThe international reactions to the 2011 Libyan civil war were the responses to the series of protests and military confrontations occurring in Libya against the government of Libya and its head of state Muammar Gaddafi....
- Libya Contact GroupLibya Contact GroupThe Libya Contact Group , was an international umbrella organization set up by its member nations and international organizations to make contacts within Libya as part of attempts to resolve the 2011 Libyan civil war.-Formation:The Contact Group was set up following the London Conference on Libya in...
- List of states with limited recognition
- London Conference on LibyaLondon Conference on LibyaThe London Conference on Libya was an international meeting of government representatives in London on 29 March 2011 to discuss the 2011 Libyan civil war. Attendees included foreign ministers and leaders from the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,...