Russia has voiced regret over foreign military intervention in Libya and denounced “indiscriminate” use of force by Western nations in the North African country.
“Moscow regrets this armed action launched with reference to hastily passed U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website on Saturday evening.
“We are convinced that for the internal conflict in Libya to be settled credibly it is necessary to stop bloodshed and launch dialogue among Libyans themselves,” Mr. Lukashevich said.
In another statement issued on Sunday Moscow called for a halt to “indiscriminate” use of force in Libya.
“We strongly urge the countries concerned to stop indiscriminate use of force,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
He added that it was “impermissible” to use the “controversial” Security Council resolution for achieving aims that “clearly go beyond its mandate of taking only steps to protect the civilian population.”
Russia, along with the other BRIC countries and Germany, abstained in the vote on Resolution 1973, which called for imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.
“My fear is that the West’s military operation in Libya would push all parties to the conflict in that country to re-unite and fight the invaders,” said Margelov, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament.
