Transcript of the PM's interview on situation in Libya
Prime Minister David Cameron speaking about the situation in Libya ahead of his meeting with President Sarkozy on 13 April 2011.
Prime Minister David Cameron speaking about the situation in Libya ahead of his meeting with President Sarkozy in Paris on 13 April 2011.
Read the transcript:
Prime Minister
The reason for being here in Paris tonight is that Britain and the France are at the heart of this coalition, and with President Sarkozy I’m going to be sitting down and making sure we leave absolutely no stone unturned in doing everything we can militarily, diplomatically, politically, to enforce the UN Resolution, to put real pressure on Qadhafi, and to stop the appalling murder of civilians that he is still carrying out, as you’ve shown on our television screens, in Misrata and elsewhere in Libya.
Question
The first British TV team did get into Misrata; children being killed by mortars and no sign of NATO. That’s not protecting the civilians, is it, in Misrata?
Prime Minister
Well, it is appalling what Qadhafi is doing in Misrata. He is murdering his own citizens, including children. The orders come directly from him. But NATO has taken steps; we have destroyed dozens of tanks and other armoured vehicles around Misrata. We’re taking action, but today here in Paris I’ll be talking with President Sarkozy about what more we can do: how can we help the opposition, how can we make more military pressure through NATO, what we can do to target this regime and the dreadful things that they’re doing. And also, yes, there has to be a political process in the future as well. All of those issues, we’re going to be absolutely on top of them and making sure we do everything we can to enforce the will of the UN and to stop Qadhafi.
Question
Do you think we are at a stalemate in this, and what concrete steps can you do to help the opposition?
Prime Minister
Well, the picture changes frequently, but the point I would make: we have prevented a massacre in Benghazi, we’ve actually helped people in Misrata, and Misrata is not controlled by Qadhafi, partly because of what NATO and British forces have done destroying regime tanks, other vehicles, artillery pieces and the rest of it. But I want to make sure we’re doing everything that we can. So that is, working through NATO but working with our French allies at the heart of this coalition, and asking what can we do militarily, politically, diplomatically; everything we can to bolster those who are trying to defend people in Libya and who want a new future for that country and doing everything we can to stop Qadhafi.