The recognition by the international community of the Transitional National Council as the legitimate government of Libya is an important political and moral victory for the opposition in Libya.
But, if it is to be a decisive moment in their struggle to remove Muammar Gaddafi from power, then the promises of increased military and financial aid, including the transfer of foreign held funds from the former Libyan government to the council, must be implemented without delay.
The UAE has shown the way by moving quickly to open a temporary representative office in Benghazi, as announced by the foreign minister, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the conference held by the Libyan Contact Group in Istanbul. Shaikh Abdullah also called for the international community to increase its pressure on Gaddafi to step down.
The conference also agreed on a roadmap for Gaddafi to relinquish his hold on power and for a transition to democracy in Libya under the council.
This is essential as the struggle in Libya is not only to remove a dictator from power, but to improve the governance of the country for the good of all its people.
