G8/Sarkozy-sponsored Russian President Medvedev Libya envoy Margelov to EuroFora: Hopes for June 9

*Angelo Marcopolo/exclusive/- G8-sponsored, Russian President Medvedev's envoy for a "mediation" on the Libyan issue, backed by 2011 G8/G20 Chairman, French President Sarkozy, experienced Chair of Russian Senate's Foreign affairs Committee and longtime CoE MEP, Michel Margelov, speaking to "EuroFora" just a few Hours before he flies for Benghazi, anounced his hope to return back to Europe from Libya on Thursday, i.e. at the beginning of a crucial EU - Russia Summit at Nijni Novgorod, on which EU Parliament is due to debate and vote this week in Strasbourg, (Comp. "EuroFora"s previous NewsReports from the G8 Summit at Deauville).

 - "I hope to come back (from the Libya trip) on the 9th" of June, Margelov revealed to "EuroFora" today (Monday) in a Phone Interview, while he was obviously busy to prepare the last practical details of his visit to Libya.

However, Margelov apparently downplayed, at least for the moment, the obviously  Significant Fact that his planned return from a Crucial Mediation attempt on the Libyan issue, coincides withthe same Day that starts the EU - Russia Summit at the Historic, Cultural and IT-Research/Development Symbolic European City of Nijni Novgorod, due to deal also with the EU-Russia Strategic Partenrship, Visa issues and Russia's entry into the WTO, etc.  : - "Could be", he simply reacted, smiling...

 - But, "you know, I'm Not (now) in a position to Predict Anything, before I came back from Benghazi..! So, let's wait from me to come back from that, first... ", experienced Margelov, (who has served also as CoE Assembly's Rapporteur on the Middle East issue 3 times in the Past), went on to add carefully.

- Neverheless, the active and voluntary Margelov also confirmed that :  - "I wish that, (and) i'll do all my Best" in order to try to contribute find a Peaceful Solution eventually for the Departure (from Power) of controversial Colonel Gaddafi, in order to prevent more Military Clashes and keep the Unity of Libya in the Future, apparently agreeing with "EuroFora"s question, which evoked the Mandate agreed on the sidelines of the G8 Summit at Deauville last week (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport from Deauville's 2011 G8 Summit, with statements by Presidents Medvedev and Sarkozy, the official collective "Declaration on Democracy and Freedom", etc).

- However, questioned by "EuroFora" about what could be the main points on which his Mediation attempt would focus, Margelov was, at least for the moment, obliged to kindly decline going down to "hot" details so soon, limiting himself to simply , but honestly reply : - "Excuse me, but I cannot talk about that right now".

- As he revealed, Margelov's phone communication with "EuroFora" came while he "was in a Train", and together with other People, busy to head towards his forthcoming trip to Libya, in just a few Hours.

Sarkozy-backed Russian Presidential Envoy to Libya Margelov's short but timely ITNW with Strasbourg-based PanEuropean NewsMedia "EuroFora" is the 1st he gave on a Media other than Russian Press Agencies, (while even CNN didn't succeed yet but only to reach an intermediary Press Spokesperson, but not Margelov himself)..

Initially, Russian President Medvedev had apparently thought that Margelov could fly to Libya perhaps immediately after Deauville's 2011 G8 Summit, according to an hypothesis evoked during his Press Conference there, but, afterwards, it seems that this obviously very delicate Diplomatic attempt had to be carefully prepared during a Week, until now.

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According to the G8 Heads of State/Government 2011 Summit at Deauville's official Conclusions, and particularly the relevant statements by 2011 G8/G20 Chairman, French President Sarkozy, and Russian President Medvedev, the Mandate given to Margelov is mainly to try to find a peaceful way, negociated with both sides, for colonel Gaddafi to step down from power, and his Soldiers to return back to their barracks, in order to prevent the intensification of Military Clashes and the Rebel's on-going Advance, sparing to all more troubles and sufferings, and facilitating a Transition into a Democratic Political Change in Libya, due to be freely decided by the Libyan People.

Here is a relevant abstract of what "EuroFora" had published earlier from the G8 Heads of State/Government Summit at Deauville on Sarkozy-Medvedev's and the collective "Declaration"'s data concerning Margelov's delicate and crucial Libyan mission :

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Moves on LIBYA, (including "Mediation" envoy Margelov)

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On the G8 Summit Declarations including Libya, Sarkozy was questioned in his concluding Press Conference, about the official text's main point, that "Qadhafi and the Libyan Government have Failed to fulfil their Responsibility to Protect the Libyan Population and ..lost all Legitimacy". Therefore, the controversial Colonel Qadhafi "has No future in a free, democratic Libya", and "he MUST GO".

- "But Gaddafi refuses to go. So what happens now?", the 1st Question raised to Sarkozy wondered from the outset.

- "We (i.e. all G8 Leaders) largely agree on this goal. The terms used with regard to Mr Gaddafi are particularly clear, and very tough, and they have been accepted by all the G8 member countries, including Russia. In addition, all of our African partners stand very much with us on the decisions regarding Libya",  the French President observed.


- "So, Mr Gaddafi has a choice: Either he goes and stops a great deal of Libyan suffering, or he persists and pays the price himself".

- If he refuses, we shall have to "Step Up the Military Intervention to Protect the Populations, according to (UNO SC's) Resolution 1973", Sarkozy warned, (while Brittish and French Military HJigh-Tech Helicopters were reportedly arriving at the Libyan Coasts, ready to extend the original idea of Air-strikes against Offensive Army assets which could be used to attack the Libyan dissident populations, while still keeping away from putting any soldiers on any Libyan ground (Comp. previous "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the start : I.e. since the March 19 International Paris' Summit EU-USA/Canada-Arab Ligue-UNO).
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G8 Summit's Declaration also "take(s) note of actions undertaken by UN Member States to implement fully UNSCRs 1970 and 1973", particularly "in regard" to "the immediate cessation of the use of Force against Civilians by the Libyan Regime forces".

The Deauville Summit's official text also "stress(es) the need to hold to account those Responsible for Attacks on Civilians" since the beginning of Popular protests. "These Criminal actions will Not go Unpunished", G8 Leaders stress, while also "welcom(ing) the work of the International Criminal Court in investigating (such) crimes".

+ "Recall(ing G8's) strong commitment to the ...Territorial Integrity and national Unity of Libya", G8's Leaders declare "committed to supporting a Political Transition that reflects the will of the Libyan People", and "welcome the Interim National Council's (the Benghazi'-based Leadership of the Popular uprising) "Road Map on Libya" as an important contribution to the transition process, which has to be Libyan-led", as they point out.

- However, for that purpose, the G8 Leaders "stress the central role of the (UNO's) Secretary-General's Envoy to Libya, Mr Al-Khatib, in facilitating an inclusive and lasting political solution, based on the legitimate demands of the Libyan people and taking into account the role of regional organisations, the League of Arab States and the African Union", while also "reiterat(ing) the central role of the UNO's Security Council, in accordance with the UN Charter", and "recognis(ing) the initiatives undertaken by the members of the Contact Group".

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+ Meanwhile, Sarkozy had discussed from the outset Libya's issue with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, i.e. since their preliminary Bilateral meeting, as he already anounced yesterday (See "EuroFora"s previous NewsReport) :

 - The French President expressed his "Gratitude" to Russian President Medvedev, for "a great Convergence of views" with a country that France considers as "a Strategic Partner and a Friend", as he stressed already yesterday (Comp. "EuroFora"s previous Publication). :

- First of all, for the "Abstention of Russia during the Vote of the Resolution 1973 at UNO's Security Council", "without which", the "No Fly Zone" Intervention in Libya" would have become "impossible", since, "if Russians had blocked, this might have incited also other partners" (f.ex. China, etc)... I.e., "to be honest and just, independently of any other eventual difference of appreciation that we might have had with the Russians, they allowed the adoption of that UNO Resolution" on Libya, Sarkozy reminded, adding that, in Deauville's Bilateral Talks, they "explained, in detail, what we want" :

 - "UNO gave us a Mandate to Protect a Population, and that's what we are doing", added in 2 Press Conferences the 2011 G8/G20 President, (whose troops haven't yet even tried to touch on Libya's land, contrary to other, classical invasions/occupations, as, f.ex. that of Turkey's Army, which still occupies the northern part of Cyprus, etc).


- "It's not for us to Build the Future and Choose Libya's Future... It's for the Libyan People to decide how to Build their Future and to Prepare their Future".  We defend Libyan People's "Freedom and the Right to Dream their Future", as he said. - "Our Idea is always to apply (UNO SC's) 1973 Resolution with one Aim : Obtain Peace and the Right to Democracy for Libyan" People, Sarkozy stressed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
- He didn't deny that "the intervention that we (the International Coalition EU/USA-Canada/Arab Ligue/UNO) have done might eventually raise questions,.. and (that) it wasn't an easy decision to engage our Soldiers".

- But, "if we hadn't intervened" at all, then, "Benghazi would have been erased from the Map, by the Deadly Madness of a Man (controversial Colonel Kadhafi) who had promissed an unprecedented Oppression". -"If we hadn't done so, it was just a question of Hours, (and) Benghazi is a city of more than 1 Million inhabitants : When we see what Mr. Kadhafi did to the Population of Misrata (a Bombarded and Emptied from its inhabitants, embattled City at Western Libya), everybody can imagine what was the Fate reserved to Benghazi's inhabitants", Sarkozy reminded...

=> - "The Solution is in Mr. Kadhafi's hands : If he asks his Soldiers to return back into their barracks, and announces, after 41 Years of Dictatorship, that he steps out, (then), from that moment, the Libyan People will find anew the Freedom and the Right to imagine their Future, including with Members of the Current Regime, on condition that they don't have Blood in their hands", Sarkozy said earlier to Medvedev.

- "Someone who sent Tanks and Military Aviation to strike even against disarmed and defenseless People, cannot remain in power, he added on the controversial Libyan  Colonel Kadhafi. And "his Soldiers must return back into their Baracks, stopping to martyrize the People, including in Tripoli, where Snipers are on the roofs, while Meetings of more than 3 Persons are Prohibited, People are Afraid, Massacers go on", Sarkozy denounced.

- "I think that" the Russian President "Mr. Medvedev understood that the Error was committed by Mr. Kadhafi, and he clearly told us so", even if there is a traditional diplomacy" and a "concern on where this might lead", to which we replied that, "the real situation on the spot" is that "the Opposition's forces advance forward", (Headquartered in Benghazi, but active also on Libya's Western part).
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>>> MARGELOV's MEDIATION on the Libyan issue :
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* In Public Statements on Russia's "Mediation" in the Libyan issue, Sarkozy, after clarifying that this concerns the ways to realize in practice G-8 Summit's Declaration (See supra), warmly "Welcomed" President Medvedev's "force of Persuasion", which is generally needed also whenever UN SC Resolutions pass through, as it was already done with the 1973 Text on Libya, and concluded that "Russia is a Great Partner", both in this (Libyan) issue, as also in others, f.ex. Iran, etc, (as he had even said, earlier, on the UN Copenhagen 12/2009 Summit on Climate Change, where EU and Russia had also joined forces, together with other countries) :

- In particular, questioned by an Italian journalist "if there was" indeed "an idea for a Russian proposal to mediate on the Libyan issue", and "what he thinks" about it, the French President made a clear Distinction :


- "Concerning (Russia's) President Medvedev, words have meaning : - What does "Mediation" mean?", Sarkozy wondered. -"There is no possible mediation with Mr Gaddafi", himself, at least Not on the above-mentioned principle that "the Soldiers of Mr Gaddafi must return back to their barracks, and (that) Mr Gaddafi must go", he reiterated, according also to the 2011 G8 Summit's official Declaration (See supra).


- But, "we can discuss the Details of that (Gaddafi's) departure, with due Respect, in which Country,…", etc. - "All of that can certainly be discussed", he pointed out.

+ Earlier, Sarkozy had already observed that -"We (G8) are not saying that "Kadhafi must be Exiled", it's not our problem. We are (simply) saying that he must go, i.e. that he must quit Power". And "the Sooner he makes it, the Larger a Choice he will have". But, "the Later he does so, the more the Destinations will be reduced", he had warned, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReports for Yesterday).

- Thus, "If (Kadhafi) asks his Soldiers to return back into their barracks, and announces ...that he steps out, (then), from that moment, the Libyan People will find anew the Freedom ...to imagine their Future, including with Members of the Current Regime, on condition that they don't have Blood in their hands", proposed Sarkozy earlier to Medvedev, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReport for yesterday).

- In practice, "let's agree, first, on the Principle, before to agree on the Direction", Sarkozy replied to another journalist's question about if he has any suggestion on where Gaddafi should go.

-"It's for Mr Kadhafi to say that he Quits power, and, afterwards, all Discussion is possible", he characteristically added. - "That''s the 1st issue. Let his Soldiers return back to their Barracks.... That's the (real) issue. And afterwards we will deal with the Direction, the Airplane Ticket, and even the Class of the Airplane's seat", he had distinguished.

 - "And as regards (the Russian President) Mr Medvedev (himself), why should we deprive ourselves from Persuasion powers, since, on Russia’s behalf, he agrees to condemn what's going on in Libya and to condemn Mister Gaddafi’s acts ? So, yes, we need President Medvedev’s help, and, already, this allowed us, at the UN Security Council, to pass Resolution 1973" (which allowed effective Action to protect Libyan People from attacks of Colonel Gaddafi regime's Military), Sarkozy observed. "So, yes, this (Russia's) Help is Welcome, on this issue as on others : (F.ex.) As it has been useful in all the matters that are still ongoing with Iran", etc. - "Russia is a great Partner", Sarkozy concluded.
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+  Among the various practical issues that Margelov might, eventually,have to mediate, could be also, f.ex., "what Gaddafi can take with him, or what he should loose" , as Russian President Medvedev noted (See infra).


- Thus, questioned f.ex. by a journalst on the "complicated issue" of "considerable Libyan funds that have been Frozen throughout the world, ...as part of a UN decision", and whether he believed that they should be "unfreezed" in order "to help the (Libyan Opposition's) National Council, i.e. the Council in Benghazi, with all its implications of increased recognition of this same Council", Sarkozy stressed that his pesonal "opinion is that I would like everything to move faster because the National Transition Council needs resources".

- These Funds "are assets illegally held abroad by a number of Libyan personalities associated with those who are currently in power", while, "of course the National Transition Council needs money", he denounced.

- "But", unfreezing them for Benghazi's NTC, "raises legal problems because we are States based on the rule of law, and in such States the end doesn’t necessarily justify the means. That’s why it’s a bit difficult. It’s one of the problems" on which Diplomacy "has been actively working on most", since, in order to face CNT's needs, "that money which is blocked exists, but the proces (of selectively unfreezing it) isn’t moving swiftly enough", regretted Sarkozy.
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 - "UNO gave us a Mandate to Protect a Population, and that's what we are doing", added the 2011 G8/G20 President, (whose troops haven't yet even tried to touch on Libya's land, contrary to other, classical invasions/occupations, as, f.ex. that of Turkey's Army, which still occupies the northern part of Cyprus, etc).

Meanwhile, the French President, replying to another question, confirmed his intention to visit Libya, and in particular CNT at Benghazi, anouncing that he intends to do so together with the new Brittish Prime Minister David Cameroon, but only later-on, "when the time is right" for "a working trip (to) meet all those who want to build the Democratic Libya of Tomorrow", as he said.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * Russian President Dmitry MEDVEDEV, speaking today (Friday) to Journalists including "EuroFora" at Deauville, after the conclusion of the G8 Summit, clearly confirmed from the outset that Moscow, together with all its other Partners at the G8, "were Unanimous on" the key point "that Gaddafi's Regime has Lost Legitimacy, and (that) he must Leave", as "the (collective) "Declaration" underlines (Comp. supra).- "Today, the International Community No longer sees him as Libya's Leader, and this position is not only that of the G8, but of all African Countries as well, who attended the afternoon sessions today" at Deauville, Medvedev also observed.
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Questioned (as also Sarkozy : Comp. supra) on -"Where (al-Gaddafi) should .. go ?", the Russian President replied that, the choice of the place "for the Retreat of the current leader of the Libyan revolution, I mean al-Gaddafi, I doN't think it is particularly Significant"  :


- "Let him go wherever he wants to !". Russia "will not " take in Gaddafi, he anounced, "but (other) such Countries can be found", he noted.
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- However, "if he (al-Gaddafi) takes this responsible decision for himself", this "would be Good for his Country and the Libyan People", the Russian President pointed out.


- Because the Procedure may count for the several practical Matters on which Margelov will have to Mediate : F.ex., in that case, "it would be possible to Discuss How this could be carried out, what Country might take him in, and on what Terms, what he could Save and what he should Lose", as he evoked. (See also supra).
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- On this occasion, the Russian President revealed, "about Libya", that he "decided to send (his) special Representative to Africa, Mr Margelov, there" :


 - The move aims "to better use our opportunities and existing Contacts, between Russia and Benghazi, on the one hand, and Tripoli, on the other", he initially explained.

- But, concluding his Press Conference, he made it clear, in reply to "a Question about Mr. Margelov" being "not sent to Tripoli, but to Benghazi", that the G8-backed Russian Mediator "should Go to Benghazi. With regards to Tripoli, the situation is more complicated", he noted.


- "In any case, I hope he (Margelov) will have the opportunity to Communicate with Both sides, namely the rebels, the New political forces (currently headquartered at Benghazzi), and the representatives of the Former leadership" (currently headquartered in Tripoli), making an obvious Distinction between "Going" and "Communicating"...

- As for the Future, he agreed with the well-known official position of the Benghazi-headquartered National Transition Council, as well as French President Sarkozy, that "Libya" should be "preserv(ed) ..as an independent, free, sovereign state, a state that does not fall apart or become lifeless, but one that will secure the interests of all citizens of Libya".
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- A main point about the Russian "Mediation", Medvedev observed, is that "we have Contacts with Both Sides : ...Russia has not severed diplomatic relations with Libya and we remain in close contact". But also "Representatives of the Opposition Forces stationed in Benghazi have visited Russia", while "we have also held consultations with representatives of political forces in Tripoli, the political team which supports the current leader". Because Russia's "Consultations" already include "the Widest possible scope of Participants, involving those who are Dissatisfied with the situation and advocated Change in the political system from the start, as well as adherents of the existing System and Gaddafi’s supporters".

- "We have always advocated a Peaceful Solution to this Problem: through Negotiations", and "we are trying to combine our approaches and remove the causes for the escalation of violence, which, unfortunately, continues to this day. The sooner the Armed conflict Ends, the sooner the Military Operation ends, the Better it will be for Everyone who lives in Libya", Medvedev noted.

- That's why, after "suggesting" that "in the course of my Consultations with my Counterparts in the Group of Eight" most powerful Countries in the World, "in general, Everyone agreed that it would be Helpful", he revealed. ....  >>

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 << .... It's  to a Top former CoE Assembly's MEP,  well known in Strasbourg and particularly by "EuroFora"s co-Founder, that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev anounced in Deauville that he decided, in the framework of an agreement with French President Sarkozy, to choose as his personal Envoy in order to try to "mediate" on the Libyan issue : Michael Margelov, the current Chairman of Russian Senate's Foreign affairs Committee, experienced former President of the PanEuropean CoE Assembly's EDG Group, (Comp. Margelov's statements to "EuroFora"s co-founder, given and published as early as since 2004 and 2005, already).  

 Margelov was generally considered, by mainstream CoE's Officials, as a potential, would-be President of its Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), already since 2005, according also to traditional agreements for a Rotation between Political Groups, but was, at the last minute, hindered to take over PACE's Chair, following a GeoPolitical Competitors' plot (mainly by a former "Socialist" UK Government+), which surprisingly violated CoE's established Principles and, after some manoeuvering, finally resulted into giving PACE's chair, for the 1st time in CoE's 65 Years of History, to a ...Turkish MEP (classic GeoPolitical competitor of Russia, whose mainly Asiatic State had exceptionally been given a PanEuropean CoE's controversial membership in the remote Past  of former "Cold War" period, against the former USSR (mainly current Russia).     

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