Downing Street Says

On Libya the PMS advised that there had been substantive discussions on the draft resolution at the UN yesterday and that there remained a range of views in the Council. Tabling the resolution had had the desired effect of triggering serious discussions on next steps. The Prime Minister was closely engaged with the process. He had been making phone calls until late last night and spoke to a series of Arab leaders to emphasise the need for Arab involvement. What countries in that region said would have important influence on members of the Security Council. The Prime Minister would be making more calls and the PMS said he would update lobby as and when they happened.

Asked who the Prime Minister had spoken to, the PMS said that he would provide an update when appropriate. He confirmed that the Prime Minister had spoken to a number of Arab leaders the previous evening and that views in that region would impact the dynamic of discussions at UN Security Council. He repeated the United States Ambassador’s comments that Arab leadership and participation was very important and that as the request for action came from them, they should be ready and willing to contribute in meaningful ways.

Asked if he expected to see Arab leaders commenting in public, the PMS said that what they said in public was less important than their position being understood.

Asked if the Prime Minister had spoken to President Obama last night or in the last 8 days, the PMS reiterated that he would provide an update on calls and that the Prime Minister had spoken to President Obama the previous week. The Government was working closely with the US administration, and they were discussing the draft resolution.

Asked how confident he was that the Arab states would contribute in a meaningful way, the PMS said that a meaningful contribution was the objective. He confirmed that talks would continue with those countries and that the Government was thinking carefully about how best to influence discussions at the UN.

Asked if a vote could be expected today on the resolution, the PMS confirmed that there was a good chance that there would be a vote.

Questioned on whether other countries were shifting the way the US had, the PMS said that he believed there had been some movement and that the decision to push forward with the draft resolution had made an impact, but wouldn’t speak about particular countries.

Responding to a question on whether the UK and France could go it alone on a no-fly zone, the PMS said that we were in the middle of a UN process and would see what happened with that.

Asked if there was consensus from Arab leaders on support for a no-fly zone, the PMS pointed to the Arab league statement from the previous weekend.

Asked how important it was to get a resolution through today, the PMS said that there was a race against time with the situation on the ground becoming increasingly concerning.

Asked if there were any Gulf countries the UK wouldn’t accept military help from, the PMS said to wait and see what was decided at the UN Security Council.

Asked if Security Council members were going to use their veto, the PMS said that the objective was to see the international community come together and take action. That required nine votes and no vetoes.

Asked if the no-fly zone was an essential part of the draft resolution, the PMS said that it was an important part and pointed to comments made by the Prime Minster when he said that there was no single answer to the problem.

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» Thursday, March 17, 2011

Libya

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