No Obama Support from Brazil, Russia, China on Libya Front

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is fighting a war against his own people, and against NATO. This week, Brazil, Russia and China condemned the NATO strategy.

Brazil joined its BRIC partners Russia and China in calling for an immediate cease fire in Libya. According to the Brazilian senate’s news agency on Friday, the Committee on External Relations and National Defense called for an immediate cease fire on Thursday. The senate asked for a negotiated solution to the Libyan internal conflict to be led by the United Nations and Organization of African States.

Earlier this week, both Russian and Chinese officials have called for a cease fire in Libya.

On March 21, China’s official government media organ, The People’s Daily, accussed the United States and its allies of breaking international rules and courting new turmoil in the Middle East. The paper likened the assault on Libyan sites to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and suggested it followed a pattern of Western overreach. “The blood-soaked tempests that Iraq has undergone for eight years and the unspeakable suffering of its people are a mirror and a warning,” said the commentary that was reprinted in part in the English version of China Daily.

China’s foreign ministry said it regretted US President Barack Obama’s decision, along with leaders in France and the UK, to send in missile strikes to military targets in Libya on Sunday, March 20. Obama ordered the strikes from the five star luxry Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro.

On March 22, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu, called for an immediate ceasefire. “China supports the continued diplomatic efforts of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Libya, the African Union and the Arab League for peaceful settlement of the current crisis in Libya.”

Brazil mimicked their Chinese allies on Thursday.

Obama ordered the airstrikes with NATO allies after Libya failed to abide by a cease fire agreement it made with the United Nations Security Council early last Friday following the Thursday, March 17 decision to put a no-fly zone in place over Libya to quell government air strikes against anti-government demonstrators.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke with Obama by phone on Thursday, asking him to avoid civilian deaths in Libya. The Russian leader again expressed his interest in mediating the conflict inside Libya. There is growing concern that NATO ground forces will be sent in if Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi does not step down.

A high-ranking Russian intelligence service source told Ria Novosti news reporters on Friday that a ground attack could be implemented next month, with no support from Russia.

Brazil, China, India, Russia and Germany abstained from the UN Security Council’s Resolution last Thursday.

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Russia’s Zhirinovsky urges Muslim world to support Gaddafi

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the colorful and flamboyant leader of Russia's LDPR party.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the colorful and flamboyant leader of Russia’s LDPR party, on Saturday called on the Muslim world to unite and support Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

“LDPR turns to all the people of the Muslim countries and urges them to unite and show solidarity with Muammar Gaddafi. The leadership of these countries should make a joint stand against NATO’s military efforts in Libya,” a statement by Zhirinovsky said.

“Do not ditch Libya face to face with the juggernaut of the North Atlantic bloc. Do not allow NATO to crush the democracy in Libya, especially with regard to the fact, that this country does not threaten anybody. Do not do the short-sighted oversea politicians’ bidding,” the LDPR leader said.

The tumult in Libya should be brought to stop as any other Muslim country could face the same situation, Zhirinovsky said. “The West is aggressive and resolved. They have not drawn a lesson from the negative experience of military intervention to Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Leaders from the United States, Britain, France and Arab countries are meeting in Paris today to discuss ways to act on the resolution authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect civilians.

U.S. President Barack Obama earlier said Gaddafi must stop the violence or face military action.

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Council still in closed consultations on Libya no-fly zone, SG in Guatemala, affirms UN’s willigness to support Japan, and more from UN Direct

Libya: The SG has remained abreast of the situation in Libya and the critical discussion underway at the Security Council aimed at protecting civilians. He spoke with the FM Kousa on the phone late Tuesday night. Special Envoy for Libya Khatib left Libya today after two days of discussions. He met with senior Libyan officials and conveyed the strong calls by the international community to stop the fighting and allow for access of UN agencies for humanitarian reasons. The Special Envoy’s efforts are continuing, which includes contact with political groups in Benghazi and authorities in Tripoli. Also, there have been reports of an assault on Benghazi. — the SG is urging all parties in the conflict to accept an immediate ceasefire and abide by SCR. 1970.

Japan: The SG spoke with Naoto Khan, the PM of Japan this morning. He extended his sympathy and condolences. In addition, the SG commended the people of Japan on the massive efforts undertaken to assist those affected. The SG and PM discussed the current situation at the Fukushima nuclear plants. The SG reiterated that the UN stands ready to provide any additional support. This morning, the Security Council observed a minute of silence for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. It is worth highlighting that the WFP have been asked to support humanitarian efforts there by providing specialized logistics support in the delivery of water, tents, and blankets to families who need them the most. In addition, Japan wants IAEA to help in the areas of environmental monitoring and the effects of radiation on human health, which follows IAEA’s offer to support Japan’s efforts and directly support and coordinate international assistance. The Agency continues to liaise with the Japanese authorities and is monitoring the situation as it evolves.

SG Travel: He is currently in Guatemala where he recently spoke with President Alvaro Colom, members of his cabinet, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu. They addressed the press afterwards. The SG will also meet with heads of state of Central America – Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, Panama, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. This afternoon, he launched the UN Peacebuilding Fund’s engagement in Guatemala.

Liberia: This morning, Ellen Løj, SRSG in Liberia and head of UNMIL, briefed the Security Council this morning about the Mission’s work. She updated the Council on voter registration and other preparations ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. Løj emphasized the importance of the independence and objectivity of the work of the National Electoral Commission. She also pointed out the challenges facing Liberia’s security sector.

Security Council: There were closed consultations regarding the no-fly zone resolution in Libya today. Also, at 3 PM, there was a discussion between Council members and the AU representatives in NY.

Côte d’Ivoire: UNOCI is condemning the deadly violence that is increasing in several towns and Abidjan, in particular. UNOCI said that last night, 18 people, including three women and a baby, were injured by a grenade. One person died. It urged the immediate end to the violence.

Sudan: The SG’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis Deng, and Edward Luck, the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, issued a statement today about the deadly violence in Abyei, in which 100 people have been killed. They warned that the clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces and the SPLM could easily trigger further ethnic-based violence in the region and urged both parties to refrain from any actions that could put lives in danger and risk a return to full-scale hostilities. Meanwhile, in Darfur, UNAMID dispatched a human rights team to Amar Jadeed, a South Darfur village, to investigate recent allegations of widespread rape.

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