We will control our destiny, say Libyan leaders

LIBYA’S new leaders are adamant they will keep control of their own destiny, insisting they will invite many countries, including Russia, China and the EU to collaborate in establishing a new state while honouring oil and other contracts made with the Gaddafi regime.

The EU’s foreign crisis manager, Dr Agostina Miozzo, was optimistic about the future of Libya following a five-day visit during which he met a range of people from potential politicians to civil society.

“The people we met were impressive. A young generation of politicians. If these are the future leadership then we will be in a good place — you can trust them, well educated, with a sense of ownership of their country and proud of the revolution,” he said of those he met representing the National Transitional Council.

They emphasised the need to return to normality and had sent out text messages telling people to return to work and get business up and running, he said.

EU sources said they had received assurances that contracts signed with the Gaddafi regime, including for oil, will not be cancelled but will be respected.

While there was still fighting in the country, the change was happening remarkably quickly with Tripoli changing overnight from snipers shooting to “happy shooting” and relative peace, Mr Miozzo said.

However he said there was a sense of fragility because of the number of weapons around, with many young men walking around with Kalashnikovs and 4x4 vehicles equipped with large weapons.

The authorities acknowledged that removing weapons will not be easy and could take some time. EU sources say that rather than taking the weapons away from young men, they may offer them jobs in the army and police, or offer them other work in exchange for their weapons.

EU sources said they were unsure who was in charge exactly, but those talking to the EU were insistent that they did not want to repeat the mistakes that were made in Iraq and Afghanistan.