Obama, Cameron, Sarkozy say Gaddafi must leaveApril 15, 2011 - 11:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The US, British and French leaders have said in a joint letter there can be no peace in Libya while Muammar Gaddafi stays in power. NATO and its partners, they say, must maintain military operations to protect civilians and maintain pressure on Colonel Gaddafi's government, BBC reported. To allow him to remain in power, they argue, would be a betrayal of the Libyan people. The BBC's Paul Adams reported from Washington that the letter, published in the UK's Times newspaper as well as the Washington Post and France's Le Figaro, is an unusual step. Signed by US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the letter says Libyans in cities like Misrata and Ajdabiya continue to suffer "terrible horrors at Gaddafi's hands". While the coalition has no mandate to remove Col Gaddafi by force, "it is impossible to imagine a future for Libya with Gaddafi in power", the leaders say. To allow him to remain in power "would be an unconscionable betrayal" of Libya's people, they argue, and would make Libya both "a pariah state [and] a failed state". "So long as Gaddafi is in power, NATO and its coalition partners must maintain their operations so that civilians remain protected and the pressure on the regime builds," the letter continues. "Then a genuine transition from dictatorship to an inclusive constitutional process can really begin, led by a new generation of leaders." The letter holds out the prospect of reconstruction for Libya with the help of the "UN and its members". Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |