Juppe: UN, NATO informed about France’s arms drop in Libya

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, June 29, 2011.

From AFP:  Members of the UN Security Council and NATO were informed about France’s plans to deliver weapons to Libyan rebels, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Friday.

"We informed our partners in NATO and the Security Council about these deliveries," Juppe said after holding talks in Moscow with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

French officials confirmed the arms drop this week but said it only included defensive weapons meant to protect civilians and was therefore in line with existing UN Security Council resolutions on Libya.

"We believe that within the frameworks of Resolutions 1970 and 1973 — and 1970 as a whole — it is clear that all means are legitimate for protecting peaceful civilians," Juppe said in reference to two documents adopted in February and March.

Lavrov said that France’s interpretation of the resolutions presented at Friday’s meeting "allows anyone to do anything for any reason."  (photo: Getty)

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy United Nations

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