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Canadian general cautions against humanitarian ceasefire in Libya

23 June 2011 04:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The Canadian commander of NATOâ€™s operations in Libya is warning against Italyâ€™s call for a ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid, saying it could give Moammar Ghadafiâ€™s regime a chance to reload APA reports quoting â€œThe Globe and Mailâ€.
While NATO continues heavy bombardment of Tripoli and pro-Gadhafi forces, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini broke ranks with the alliance strategy to call for an â€œimmediate suspensionâ€ of hostilities to establish humanitarian corridors that would allow aid to be delivered.
But Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, the Canadian in command of the NATO operation, warned that such a temporary ceasefire might give Col. Gadhafiâ€™s regime the breathing room to reinforce their forces and renew fighting at a higher tempo.
â€œA ceasefire, temporary in nature, cannot be just an opportunity for both sides to reload and to engage in further violence down the road. We must continue to stay engaged,â€ Lt.-Gen. Bouchard said in a conference call with Canadian reporters. â€œWe must continue to stay engaged to prevent that rearming and reinforcement from taking place.â€
The generalâ€™s call for pressing on comes as several politicians in NATO nations, from members of the U.S. Congress to the government of Italy â€“ which plays a key role in the coalition supporting the international mission â€“ question the strategy for the war.
The deaths of civilians caused by a weapons failure in a NATO airstrike â€“ Col. Ghadafiâ€™s regime said nine were killed â€“ have also heightened concerns from military allies, such as Italy, and political backers of the mission, such as the Arab League.
Italyâ€™s Mr. Frattini said Wednesday that â€œthe humanitarian end of military operations is essential to allow for immediate aid,â€ including areas around the rebels’ western stronghold of Misrata and around Tripoli, the Libyan capital.
But Lt.-Gen. Bouchard insisted that aid shipments of commodities such as wheat and flour have made their way through to Tripoli, and that the only obstacle is obstruction by pro-Ghadafi forces. NATO, he said, works with UN and other aid agencies to ensure it doesnâ€™t strike when the shipments are moving.
â€œSurely at the end of the day, if the Gadhafi regime wants the population to receive humanitarian assistance, all they have to do is let the shipment go by,â€ he said. â€œIn the meantime, weâ€™ll provide some assistance, as much as possible. Weâ€™re aware of all humanitarian movements that are taking place, and weâ€™re ensuring that thereâ€™s no kinetic activity while the shipments are taking place.â€
He said he appreciates Italyâ€™s efforts to support humanitarian assistance, but said a temporary ceasefire would only work if NATO knows it will not be an opportunity for Col. Ghadafi to move forces to his advantage.
â€œWe must also ensure it does not become an opportunity for the forces of the Gadhafi regime to move equipment, move troops forward, so that we only find ourselves after a brief truce with a bigger problem than we have today,â€ Lt.-Gen. Bouchard said.