Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Saturday, 27 August 2011


	27 Aug 2011 \| Issue 257 \| Sofia: min 16°, max 29°; Varna: min 17°, max 26°

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Sofia Speaking

Gaddafi-NATO Endgame in Libya and the West's Hypocrisy

By Ognian Kassabov

As what seem to be the last hours of the 4-decade long Muammar Gaddafi regime in Libya are swiftly running out, it is time to reflect once more about the degree to which Western powers are upholding democracy and international law. | read |

Sofia Speaking

Should Bulgaria Join the FYROM Debate?

By Nikola Petrov

A Macedonian fighter jet attacks a target on US soil. | read |

Sofia Speaking

Bulgaria's Museum of Socialist Art - Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame

By Maria Guineva

In the eve of September 9, the date the Communist regime was established in Bulgaria in 1944, and September 7th, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Communist Dictator, Todor Zhivkov, Sofia will launch the first ever Museum of Socialist Art while a monu | read |

The Week in Pictures

Loyalists Spread in Pockets of Resistance around Gaddafi Compound

Libyan Rebels Claim Gaddafi Surrounded in Tripoli

Rioters Break Into Bulgarian Embassy in Libya during Battle for Tripoli

Rebels Place USD 1.7 M Bounty on Gaddafi's Head

Bulgaria Reboots Probe into Libyan Torturers of Its 'HIV Trial' Medics

Medic Formerly Jailed in Libya Urges Bulgaria to Ensure Ultimate Acquittal for Him, Colleagues

Saif al-Islam 'Escaped in the Chaos'

HOT PHOTO

Fire Erupts at Bulgarian-Serbian Military Drills Witnessed by Borisov, Tadic
Bulgarian PM Borisov (middle left) and Serbian President Tadic (middle right) are pictured here during the Bulgarian-Serbian AAA drills in Shabla with smoke from the fire that broke out on the firing ground visible in the background. Photo by BGNES

Top Story

Bulgaria, Croatia Officially Recognize Rebel Govt as Libya's Legitimate Authority

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov and his Croatian counterpart Gordan Jandrokovic, have issued a joint statement officially recognizing the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate authority of Libya.

At the end of June, the two Balkan countries recognized TNC as a legitimate representative of the Libyan people, statement reminds.

""More than five months ago the Libyan people began a revolution demanding freedom, democracy and the end of the dictatorship. Today, that struggle is almost over. Muammar Gaddafi no longer has the capacity to oppress or threaten the people in Libya," the two Ministers say.

"Whether he understands it or not, Gaddafi's era is over for good. The crimes of his regime should be investigated and all responsible must be prosecuted. He and his henchmen will be held to account before the International Criminal Court," they declare.

Mladenov and Jandrokovic call for the immediate stop of all fighting in the North African state:

"The time to end the fighting has come and all his loyalists must lay down their weapons immediately. It is time to begin the process of building a democratic Libya, based on the rule of law...This great historic moment for the Libyan people should not be tainted by vengeance and violence but should be used for reconciliation, building national unity and peaceful transition."

"We look forward to re-establishing our diplomatic presence in Tripoli in the immediate future and working with the rest of the international community in assisting the Libyan people in their transition to democracy," is how the statement ends.

At the end of June Bulgaria's centrist-right GERB cabinet recognized the TNC as a legitimate representative of the Libyan people, thus reversing its position as of March 2011 when it refused to recognize it stating that some of its members were involved in the torture and imprisonment of the 6 Bulgarian medics in the so called Libya HIV trial (1999-2007).

African Union Drums Mind-Boggling Idea for Joint Govt of Gaddafi, Rebels in Libya

The African Union has called for "an all-inclusive transitional government" in Libya that would unite the rebels and members of Muammar Gaddafi's dictatorship.

The AU's position - which cames just as the Libyan rebels seem on the verge of crushing the regime of the discredited dictator - is notably different from that of the West in general, and of the Arab League, another major regional organization including Libya, which threw its weight behind the rebel government on Thursday.

It appears to reflect Gaddafi's strong positions on the African continent in light of his numerous calls for African unity after he abandoned an earlier passion for "Pan-Arabism" as well as his ties with fellow autocratic African regimes.

The AU decision, however, was not an easy one as the African Union security council took eight hours to decide not to recognise theÂ Libyan rebelsÂ as the legitimate authority of Libya - reflecting the divisions in the body over the issue, a BBC correspondent in Addis Abeba has reported.

InÂ its Communique, the AU Council also urged a ceasefire and a political settlement of the ongoing civil war in Libya at the African Union's emergency Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa Friday.

"If there is fighting, there is fighting. So we can't stand here and say this is the legitimate [government] now. The process is fluid. That's part of what we inform countries - whether there is an authority to recognize," South African President Jacob Zuma stated at the AU summit, explaining why the African Union would not recognize the Libyan rebels' Transitional National Council, as cited by Al Jazeera.

"The NTC forces are in the process of taking over Tripoli and they've claimed they've captured the city, but there's still fighting going on, those are the facts," SA President Zuma said in Addis Abeba, as cited by Bloomberg.

The AU has not changed its view even after rebels entered the Libyan capital on August 21 in a challenge to Gaddafi's 42- year dictatorship .

Some major African powers such as Nigeria and Ethiopia, however have already recognized the Libyan rebels.

A total of 20 of the 54 African Union members, including Libya's neighbors Egypt and Tunisia themselves swept by the Arab Spring revolutions earlier this year, have already individuallyÂ recognized the Transitional National Council.

South Africa, a current member of the United Nations Security Council, opposed the release of USD 30 B of frozen Libyan assets held in American banks to the rebel group unless the AU recognized them as the legitimate authority in the North African country.

On Thursday, after massive US pressure, South Africa agreed to give permission to release USD 1.5 B in frozen Libyan government assets in three disbursements for emergency aid, fuel and power and for health and education. South Africa agreed to the measure because the funds would be disbursed mainly through aid agencies.

Domestic

Socialist Leader: No Way Bulgaria's President Can Take My Job!

The idea that Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov may once again head the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), from which he started his political career, is impossible, according to the party's current leader Sergey Stanishev.
| read |

Tourism

Bulgarian Resort Sunny Beach Demands British Police Officers for 2012

Bulgaria's popular southern Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach wants British police officers to patrol it during the next tourist season.
| read |

More News

· Gaddafi Forces Carried Out 'Mass Murder' in Tripoli - Rebels, AI
· Gaddafi Troops Assault Libyan Rebels at Tripoli Airport, Tunisian Border

· Libyan Rebels Claim Gaddafi Surrounded in Tripoli
· UN Warns Libyan Rebels against Assassinating Gaddafi

Finance