FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, has said that about 40 African countries have so far recognised the Transitional National Council (TNC) in Libya.

The minister at a briefing in Abuja to spotlight the strides of the nation’s foreign policy in the first 100 days of the present administration, also explained the rationale of the agreement in principle between Nigeria and Kosovo, to set up trade offices in both Abuja and Pristina among others.

He gave an update on the TNC recognition chart saying: “As at today, over 40 African countries have now recognised the TNC following Nigeria’s leadership initiative. Our overriding interest in the fastly developing situation in Libya are threefold. One, to achieve an early end to the conflict, thereby preventing further loss of innocent lives  regardless of who the culprits are, Two, to support the process which would allow the Libyan people decide the future of the country and the third, superior logic…

“We are working closely with the council members on a range of issues, including the conflict in Libya, the crisis in Syria, Somalia among others…

Nigeria’s positive image and good standing in the international community has also attracted high level visits by chiefs of state including Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Ian Kama of Botswana, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai of Zimbabwe, Alhassane Ouatarra of Cote d’ Ivoire, as well as President Mahamaddou Issoufou of Niger Republic among others.”

He added that the need to ensure maximum security for Nigerians, coupled with the urgency of engendering co-prosperity without any negative effects on the Nigerian local environment are the twin driving forces behind the “intense bilateral engagement” which Nigeria is starting with its neighbours.

Delving into the international politics of promoting Nigeria’s interest in the West African neighbourhood through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s  functional co-operation and economic integration yesterday, the minister said: “ This strategy is as valid today as it was, at the time it was conceived, precisely because Nigeria’s security and prosperity and well-being of her citizens are inextricably tied to the stability and prosperity of its immediate neighbours.”

At the multilateral level, the minister noted that Nigeria continued to provide a credible African leadership role through its membership of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

The ministerial briefing also touched on Nigeria’s exertions in international consensus building, the creation of a positive image and fair standing in the international arena, a floodgate of goodwill and high level visits as well as the immediate and expected gains from its recognition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) of Libya.

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Sep 14 2011. Filed under Africa & World Politics, Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry