Clinton Discusses U.S. Efforts to End Violence in Libya

05 May 2011

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, and Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini during a press conference in Rome ahead of a diplomatic meeting on Libya

At a press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Rome, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the United States is working with its allies to end violence in Libya, Syria and Afghanistan.

Clinton, in Rome to attend the second meeting of the Contact Group on Libya, said the United States and Italy are working together to end the fighting in Libya.

“Today, we will be discussing in depth how better to increase the pressure on [Libyan leader Muammar] Qadhafi and those around him diplomatically, politically, economically, how we can bring about the outcome that the people of Libya and the international community seek — an end to the violence against civilians, and the beginning of a democratic transition to a better future,” Clinton said.

The United States and other members of the Contact Group are meeting in Rome with representatives of the Libyan Transitional National Council to discuss further assistance from the international community.

“I think it’s fair to say that there’s been an enormously effective effort that has been led by the Contact Group. Individual nations have certainly made their contributions,” Clinton said. “The United Nations, which will be represented here, is working very hard on the humanitarian relief side. I think that we have made a number of important commitments.”

The United States and Italy called for an immediate end to the violence used by the Syrian government against its citizens, who are calling for democracy.

“The United States has announced targeted sanctions against key individuals and entities that have engaged in grave abuses in Syria,” Clinton said, adding that Italy has called for the European Union to pursue sanctions against Syria. “Together, we have to show the Syrian government that there are consequences for this brutal crackdown that has been imposed on the Syrian people.”

Regarding Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism, Clinton said Osama bin Laden’s death sent a message about the will of the international community to bring terrorists to justice. She said the battle against al-Qaida does not end with bin Laden’s death.

“We have to renew our resolve and redouble our efforts not only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but around the world, because it is especially important that there be no doubt that those who pursue a terrorist agenda, the criminals who indiscriminately murder innocent people, will be brought to justice,” Clinton said.

Clinton said cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in the fight against terror will continue.

“They have helped us put unprecedented pressure on al-Qaida and its leadership. Bin Laden is not the only high leader in al-Qaida who has been removed from the scene thanks to the partnership between the United States and Pakistan,” Clinton said. “And we are committed to supporting the people and the democracy that Pakistan is representing now.”

A reconciliation agreement signed May 4 between Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas is being studied by the United States, Clinton told reporters.

“We are going to be carefully assessing what this actually means because there are a number of different potential meanings to it, both on paper and in practice,” Clinton said. “We’ve made it very clear that we cannot support any government that consists of Hamas unless and until Hamas adopts the Quartet principles.”