NATO to end Libya operations on Oct. 31: Rasmussen
2011-10-27 21:37:11 GMT2011-10-28 05:37:11(Beijing Time)
Xinhua English
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during a press conference after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 27, 2011. NATO will wrap up its operations in Libya on Oct. 31, Rasmussen said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen(R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a press conference after their meeting in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 27, 2011. NATO will wrap up its operations in Libya on Oct. 31, Rasmussen said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a press conference after meeting NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 27, 2011. NATO will wrap up its operations in Libya on Oct. 31, Rasmussen said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen(L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a press conference after their meeting in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 27, 2011. NATO will wrap up its operations in Libya on Oct. 31, Rasmussen said here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Ning)
BERLIN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- NATO will wrap up its operations in Libya on October 31, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said here on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Rasmussen said he did not expect the alliance to play "a major role" in Libya's post-conflict period.
"If requested we can assist the new Libyan government in the transformation to democracy, for instance with defense and security sector reform, but I wouldn't expect new tasks beyond that," he said.
NATO would make a formal decision on ending the Libya mission when its decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, meets Friday in Brussels, Rasmussen added.
Also on Thursday, the U.N. Security Council decided to end its authorization of a no-fly zone over Libya and the protection of civilians on Oct. 31, despite a call by Libya's National Transitional Council for a delay.
