While remaining in contact with TNC in Benghazi and Cairo, India also participated as an observer in the Libyan Contact Group meeting in Istanbul in July and recently at the minister of state level at the Paris conference on Libya jointly organised by France and UK on September 1.
"India will also be participating in the high level meeting on Libya scheduled to be held in the margins of the UNGA on September 20, called by the UN secretary-general. In this meeting, India will reiterate its willingness to extend all possible assistance to the people of Libya in their political transition, rebuilding and reconstruction activities," said a statement issued by the external affairs ministry.
While India still has reservations about the UN Security Council extending its mandate to effect a regime change in the country, it was probably left with no option after Russia and last week China too recognized the TNC. India's charge d'affaires to Libya, currently based in Tunis, has formally established contact with the TNC mission in Tunis. "We have given humanitarian assistance of $1 million through UN-OCHA to Libya and assistance of another $2 million is being processed," added the statement.
On the issue of Palestine too which is expected to come up at the UNGA, foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai said India supports Palestine's membership as a state in the UN. "India had recognised the state of Palestine in November 1988. We will support the membership of Palestine as a state in the UN," Mathai said while briefing reporters about the PM's visit to the UNGA.
Palestinian is seeking to become the 194th member of the UN and a request to that effect from its president, Mahmoud Abbas, is likely to be taken up at the General Assembly.
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