by Nigel Ash
French president Nicolas Sarkozy and British premier David Cameron buried their seemingly bitter differences over the EU and the . . .[restrict]eurozone, to announce joint defence and nuclear power initiatives when Cameron visited Paris on Friday.
Though their agenda was dominated by plans to build an Anglo-French reconnaissance and attack drone, develop the first European pilot-less fighter aircraft and cooperate on a new generation of nuclear power stations, Libya and its celebrations of the start of the uprising year ago, was also discussed.
Cameron presented the French leader with the casing from a shell fired by British destroyer HMS Liverpool as part of the UK’s support for the insurgent drive along the coast from Benghazi. The brass casing was inscribed: “Presented by the prime minister to president Sarkozy on the occasion of the UK-France summit and the first anniversary of the Libyan revolution, 17 February 2012.”
The mood music between the two men was very different from when Sarkozy snubbed the British leader, ignoring a proffered handshake after the UK had vetoed an EU plan to introduce tighter fiscal and financial controls on all 27 EU states, not simply the 17 members of the eurozone.
Libya matters to both leaders, because of their successful intervention against Qaddafi’s crackdown on opposition protest. Politicians do not often get cheered to the rafters, but neither man is likely to forget the unreservedly enthusiastic welcome they received last September when they made a joint visit to Benghazi.
Now Sarkozy is on the political ropes. Ahead of April’s presidential elections, he is trailing badly in the polls behind his socialist rival François Hollande. The victory he helped secure in Libya is a foreign policy success he will be keen to trumpet.
For his part Cameron said he was proud of the role that Britain had played in the Libyan revolution. He pledged to continue UK support for Libya as it rebuilds itself, both physically and politically. In a clear reference to the Syrian uprising, he said that the Libyan people should be immensely proud of the inspiration that they had given to others around the world
“One year ago today,” added Cameron, “thousands of brave men and women took to the streets of Benghazi in a revolution which spread across Libya, bringing together different tribes, towns and cities to remove a brutal dictator and to return Libya to its people.
“It was a defining moment of the Arab Spring and the Libyan people can be immensely proud of the inspiration they have given others around the world, as we are of our role in supporting them.”
He added: “The Libyan authorities are making steady progress towards a peaceful country and in coping with the terrible legacy they have inherited. There are undoubtedly years of hard work ahead, including disarming militias and building a new Libyan army.
“But the Libyan people have shown they have the vision and commitment to succeed. Britain shares the ambitions of Libyans for a stable, prosperous country based on fundamental freedoms and human rights.
“We will continue to support Libya, especially to deal with the legacy of the Gaddafi era, to entrench the rule of law, and to prepare for the country’s first elections for 40 years in June. It is the great achievement of the last year that the future of Libya is now firmly in the hands of the Libyan people.”
In a separate announcement the British foreign office pledged further cash and support for the NTC, including an extra $1.6 million to help clear land mines.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague also said that he expected that the curtailed UK visa service would soon be restored, to boost Anglo-Libyan commercial and investment links.
Britain has also been pressing the NTC on human rights. At a conference scheduled for this spring ,London is planning to call for urgent action on continuing reports of detainee abuse. [/restrict]
