Regime change lies outside resolution, says Gilmore

IN THE DÁIL:ACTIONS TAKEN under UN resolution 1973 "do not extend to regime change" in Libya and "must be confined to the protection of the civilian population", Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.

At his first Dáil question time as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Gilmore insisted “Ireland can only support implementation of resolution 1973 in a manner that is proportionate, targeted and avoids civilian casualties”.

Asked by Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath of Cork South Central if he believed the resolution, which established a no-fly zone over Libya, was being implemented in a proportionate matter, the Minister said he welcomed the “assurances provided that this is the sole purpose of the military operations now under way and that no actions will be contemplated which are not in strict accordance with the terms of resolution 1973”.

Mr McGrath asked about comments by US president Barack Obama and British prime minister David Cameron which he said “made clear that the endgame as far as they are concerned is regime change”. Mr Gilmore said the Government supported Libya’s transition to democracy. “The Gadafy regime will have to be replaced” but “it must be clearly stated that resolution 1973 did not comprehend regime change. It is confined to the protection of civilians, on which our support for implementation of that resolution is based.”