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CIVIL - MILITARY FUSION CEN TRE Mediterranean Review Comprehensive Information on Complex Crises 20 September 2011 INSIDE THIS ISSUE This document provides an overview of developments in Libya and elsewhere in the Mediterranean Basin from 13 — 19 September 2011, with hyperlinks to source material highlighted and underlined in Diplomacy Security the text. For more information on the topics below or other issues pertaining to the region, please contact Development the members of the Med Basin Team, or visit our website at www.cimicweb.org. ABOUT THE CFC Diplomacy Kendall Allen ► [email protected] The Civil-Military Fusion Centre (CFC) is an information In diplomatic developments in Libya this week, the National Transitional Council (NTC) and knowledge management struggled to resolve its internal issues and even postponed the relocation of its headquarters organisation focused on from Benghazi to Tripoli. The international community, both individual countries and improving civil-military international organisations, have offered their support and continue to take action in helping interaction, facilitating the NTC facilitate a smooth transition into a new government. In other parts of North Africa, information sharing and Egypt and Algeria continue to push for progress in their electoral reforms. enhancing situational awareness through the CimicWeb portal International support for Libya and the representative of Libya, even to the United and our weekly and monthly NTC Nations. Herman Van Rompuy, president of publications. everal countries have expressed their the European Council, made the support for the NTC this week as the announcement and also commented that the CFC products are based upon new Libyan government continues to new government of Libya will need to push and link to open-source S achieve greater legitimacy and standing in the itself to become more inclusive. information from a wide variety international community. British Prime of organisations, research Minister David Cameron and French President In light of the international support and centres and media sources. Nicholas Sarkozy visited Tripoli on 15 diplomatic pressure exhibited by both However, the CFC does not September in order to boost public morale and individual countries and regional endorse and cannot necessarily reaffirm the continuation of NATO bombings organisations, the United Nations made two guarantee the accuracy or until Libya is free of Gaddafi‟s forces and significant decisions this week on the fate of objectivity of these sources. Gaddafi has been located. Canada also the NTC and Libya: the General Assembly expressed its support and acceptance of the will allow the NTC to take the seat of Libya as CFC publications are NTC this week by ordering the unfreezing of the official representative and the UN Security independently produced by Knowledge Managers and do Libyan assets. Canadian Foreign Affairs Council eased international financial and not reflect NATO policies or Minister John Baird broadcasted the news that economic sanctions against the country, positions of any other his country would unfreeze USD 2.2 billion thereby allowing for the widespread organisation. worth of Libyan assets. The action was made unfreezing of Libyan assets. Al Jazeera possible through an exception provided by the reported on 17 September that the General United Nations Security Council. Assembly voted to accept the NTC as the sole representative of the country. The vote passed Regional organisations also had Libya and the 114 countries to 17, with 15 abstentions and NTC at the forefront of their agendas this serves as an international symbol of week. The African Union‟s (AU) committee legitimacy for the NTC. The UN Security on Libya held a meeting in South Africa. The Council voted one day earlier to alleviate AU has not recognised the NTC and has some of the restrictions on Libya as the NTC CONTACT THE CFC traditionally not been in favour of the group. progresses towards resuming business as For further information, contact: The agenda of the meeting remains shrouded normal in the country. The relaxed sanctions in ambiguity and leaders could only confirm approved by the Security Council provide the Med Basin Team Manager that the meeting was taking place. The necessary environment for key institutions Dr. Matthew Hall European Council was much more open about such as the Libyan national oil company and [email protected] its position concerning the NTC and central bank to recover. A Security Council announced on 16 September that the Council statement released by Reuters proclaims that The Mediterranean Team [email protected] was ready to recognise the NTC as the official the new resolution demonstrates the Council‟s “determination to ensure that assets frozen pursuant to (UN successful expansion of the new government‟s interim cabinet. sanctions resolutions) shall as soon as possible be made As of 18 September, the NTC had failed to name the 36 available to and for the benefit of the people of Libya.” British members of the cabinet, yet there is speculation that an Ambassador to the United Nations Mark Lyall Grant also agreement may be made within days. Another blow to the commented that the decision would “help kick-start Libya‟s morale of the group came with the announcement that the NTC economy and encourage economic self-sufficiency.” However, will not move its headquarters to Tripoli from Benghazi on some facets of the old schedule. According to a resolution will stay in place, report by Reuters, the decision such as the arms embargo and “We think that Mahmoud Jibril has lost the confidence of to postpone the move is in no-fly zone, in order to aid response to the handful of stability efforts. In addition, people…We think he’s a project for a new dictator.” cities that are not yet under the the new Security Council control of the rebel forces. resolution also provides for the Anes Sharif, spokesman for the Tripoli military Reuters published a statement creation of a UN mission in council from Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, Libya that will aid the NTC NTC vice chairman and and Libya as a whole in its post spokesman, saying that “We -conflict transitional period. will stay in Benghazi until the liberation of Libyan cities and then, after, we will make an announcement and move to The NTC in Libya Tripoli.” The NTC is experiencing both the ebb and flow of success as they continue to strive for centralised power in leading Libya Egypt and Algeria – Steps toward electoral progress through this transitional period. Mustafa Abdul Jalil was Egypt and Algeria have both taken steps this week to improve received very well in Tripoli by the Libyan public. Appearing the clarity, transparency, and effectiveness of their electoral in Tripoli‟s Martyrs‟ Square, the NTC chairman discussed the processes. In Egypt, the military council has announced that future of Libya, and the role that the average citizen had to parliamentary elections are tentatively scheduled to occur on play in that development. Jalil spoke of the important role of 21 November of this year. The elections will occur in three both women and youth in the new government, and also the phases and may last almost a month, reports the BBC. importance of moderation – opting for Islamist governance but Although the Egyptian presidential elections are not scheduled steering away from extreme ideologies (see ‘Security’ below). to take place until spring of 2012, the prospective presidential candidates held a meeting on 13 September to discuss the Although the speech in Martyrs‟ Square seemed to please the events of Egypt‟s transitional period and the decisions being public, the NTC itself has struggled this week with actually made by transitional leaders. According to al-Masry al-Youm, achieving unity and reconciliation in its own ranks. Reports the meeting also covered topics such as electoral laws and the indicate Interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril may be a use of Egypt‟s state of emergency law. prominent source of tension. The US-educated and former member of the Gaddafi regime has been accused of exclusivity Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika declared a new order in his recent dealings. The Associated Press reports that Anes that will lift the harsh restrictions on media in the country. For Sharif, a spokesman for the Tripoli military council, believes the first time since the 1960s, private radio and television that Jibril has lost touch with Libyans. He says, “We think that stations will be allowed to broadcast. The BBC reports that the Mahmoud Jibril has lost the confidence of people…We think administration hopes the move will satisfy an increasingly he‟s a project for a new dictator.” The Guardian also reported discontent public that is starting to challenge the government‟s this week that the NTC‟s internal divisions are preventing the policies and the economic situation in the country. Security Melodee M. Baines ► [email protected] As pro-Gaddafi forces in four towns continue their resistance to opposition forces, National Transitional Council (NTC) officials and Libyans have begun to form identity style of politically moderate Islam unique to Libya. Meanwhile, missing weapons and fears of increased terrorism and criminal activity are causing concern for Libya and its neighbours, as Niger called for international support in dealing with the effects of the conflict. peration Odyssey Dawn represents the first major situation in order to re-establish the US Embassy. Currently, combat operation for United States Africa Command US service members are in Libya to help the US Department O (AFRICOM), according to the US Department of of State, and not “in an offensive of defensive military Defense. A US military team is in Tripoli to assess the security capacity”. Meanwhile in the capital, the brigades from RECOMMEND REPORT TOPICS TO THE CFC: MEDITERRANEAN REGION IN TRANSITION In order to meet the growing demand for information regarding the dynamic, complex events in Libya specifically and North Afri- ca generally, the CFC has begun publishing special reports on the region in addition to our weekly newsletters.