International powers agree on new fund for Libyan rebels
Twenty-two nations and international organizations met in Rome on Thursday to figure
out how to help the Libyan rebels, who say they need up to $3 billion in the coming
months for military salaries, food, medicine and other basic supplies.
A new
fund to aid Libya's rebels was agreed upon, with the US and Europe promising to tap
frozen assets of Muammar Gaddafi's regime despite still unresolved legal issues.
The
fund will initially receive donations and loans from the international community,
while the assets -- estimated at 30 billion dollars (20 billion euros) for the US
alone – will be used to finance it at a later date.
“It sends a very obvious
and clear message to the world – to the Arab world and to the rest of the world –
that the insurgents have international support,” said James Walston, Professor of
International Relations at The American University of Rome.
“Whoever supports
them hopes that they will have an advanced interest in the new Libyan government,
if an when the Transitional National Council actually takes power.”
It was
the second time the International Contact Group for Libya convened after it held its
inaugural meeting in Qatar. Participants agreed to hold their next meeting in the
United Arab Emirates in June.
“What is important at the moment for everyone
is that Gaddafi leaves. What happens afterwards, they hope they will be able to condition
and maybe control,” Walston told Vatican Radio.
Listen to Prof James Walston’s
full interview with Kelsea Brennan-Wessels: