France, U.S. agree on NATO role in Libya operation
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Xinhua, March 23, 2011
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama have agreed on how to use the command structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO) to support the military operation in Libya, the Elysee Palace said on Tuesday.
The two leaders exchanged ideas over the Libya situation in a telephone call from President Obama, Sarkozy's office said in a brief statement.
"They agreed on the need to continue efforts to ensure the full implementation of (the UN) resolutions 1970 and 1973," the statement said, adding that both leaders are satisfied with the coordinated military operation in Libya, which in their opinion has limited civilian casualties.
"Finally, the two presidents agreed on how to use the command structure of NATO in support of the coalition," the statement concluded, without giving further details.
Earlier in the day, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe also denied in the National Assembly that NATO assumed a commanding role in the coalition intervention in Libya. He said it was the initiative of the French president that led to the military implementation of a no-fly zone, which later on gained endorsement from Britain as well as from the Arab League.
"For us, this operation first of all is an operation called by the United Nations, it is conducted by a coalition of states, not all of which are NATO members," Juppe said.
"Therefore it's not an operation of NATO even though it must be supported by means of military planning and intervention of the Alliance (NATO)," the top French diplomat added.
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