European Union International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

NATOSource

September 3, 2011

EU offers to reform Libyan security forces

By AFP

EU offers to reform Libyan security forces

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, Jan. 31, 2011.

From AFP:  The European Union is offering to help Libya’s rebels reform security forces after 42 years under a police state and collect weapons when the war ends, the EU’s chief diplomat said today. . . .

After 42 years of dictatorship, [Catherine] Ashton said reforming the security forces will be one of the long-term task to help the rebel administration "deal with the number of weapons that are currently in Libya" and border management.

"This is actually quite a long-term job, because it’s about making sure you have strong police forces operating in a democratic country," she said. . . .

The EU offered to deploy a military humanitarian mission to Libya at the height of the conflict to secure aid shipments, but the United Nations never called it in.  (photo: AP)

Image: ap%202%2011%2011%20Catherine%20Ashton.jpg