africa have the same aspirations and i think the nations in north africa in our region have the ability to run their own countries and they have the ability to reach their goals and objectives that is important to be taken out of the interference of nato in the region and nato has interfered in the affairs of libya the security council has made a mistake instead of sending arms and trains to libya they should have sent mediation groups in order to prepare for a free elections with the pieces of the united nations and whoever won the elections would be acceptable to the people but the security council hastily issued a resolution and it has a complicated situation that has left the lens and massacre of cipro and destruction of the in frasse to us shows in the country can you highlight for me why you've had slightly different approaches to for instance the unrest in syria what's going on in egypt at the time just before you go. quoting it urged people to continue their protests to free themselves and choose their own leaders in their own form of government but can't that happen in syria as

africa have the same aspirations and i think the nations in north africa region have the ability to run their own country and they have the ability. to reach their goals and architectures that is important to take an oath of the interference of nato in the region as nato has interfered in the affairs of libya the security council has made a mistake instead of standing on planes to libya if they should have sent mediation groups in order to prepare for elections with the auspices of the united nations and whoever. won the elections would be acceptable to the people but the security council hastily issued a resolution which has a complicated situation that has led to killings and massacres of people and destruction of the infrastructures in the country ok she's been translated you know so what you said ok can you highlight for me why you've had slightly different approaches to for instance the unrest in syria what's going on in egypt at the time just before hosni mubarak stepped down you you quoting it urged to continue their protests to free themselves and choose their own leaders in

i may with the story that made all the news headlines for the past six months that unfolded in north africa in the middle east it's been the arab spring what are your views on the arab spring and we've spoken about it before but i just wanted to hear your latest thoughts do you think it's a popular uprising for the better to bring democracy or you think it's something maybe there's been all chris traded from abroad over to use this window. in the name of god the compassionate of each of. us first of all allow me to say hello to the viewers of your channel we are now in the month of ramadan in iran and we enjoy the blessings of our law for all human beings in this month and our last determines the destiny of human beings in this great round for the next year this month is the month of passion and kindness and i hope in this month all human beings. have. kindly behavior to each other and they are enjoying the royal blessings you ask for the very important questions we have seen very important developments in our region and in north africa there are a few important things we must pay attention

may with the story that made all the news headlines for the past six months that's unfolded in north africa in the middle east that's been the arab spring what are your views on the arab spring and we've spoken about it before but i just wanted to hear your latest thoughts do you think it's a popular uprising for the better to bring democracy or you think it's something maybe that's been orchestrated from abroad over to use or. this we'll learn more in the name of god the compassionate mr. it's in the hands of. the religious and from the sun the source of allow me to say hello to the viewers of your channels and we are now in the month of ramadan in iran as in michigan and we enjoy the blessings of our love for all human beings in this month's holiday and our last determines the destiny of all human beings in this way to mount isa for the next in this month a month of. kindness and i hope. all human beings. grind lead behavior to each other and they will enjoy divine blessings you are asking very important questions we have seen very important developments in our region and in north africa

export it around forty billion dollars of goods and services to north africa and the middle east but it's black gold that's the key libya has the largest oil reserves in africa western powers look at the region they talk about humanitarianism or chemical say that they think ultra low grade martin says it's impossible not to draw a comparison with iraq he's written a book about the aftermath of the iraq invasion in which he maintains western powers imposed a democracy which played on sectarian divisions that ensured years of tribal struggle but also meant the allies retained control of the oil supply while the u.k. government insists lessons have been learnt from iraq western oil firms move into libya even before the fate of tripoli is sealed great oil grab is already beginning b.p. has a contentious oil and gas exploration contract in libya which the u.k. government will be anxious for it to resume italian all jayanti n i. it's the first to send dog back to libya and he shares rose on the knees french tea towel and envy all three did well as investors hoped they'd soon be able to res

really going to commit large sums of money to support the arab countries of the middle east and north africa i'd like to think they would but i think they're quite serious differences of opinion there and trying to commit billions of dollars to support tunisia or wherever it is i think is probably a step too far at this stage qualifying going to you know i'm not going to ask anyone here to be a middle east expert here but i think it's quite interesting that this picture of aid for attorneys in egypt and you know a lot of people that are critical of western involvement in the in north africa would say you know you know the money might come but there's going to be all these strings attached and it's going to be the west involving itself in this very complicated in long term transformation i mean is is that it's shows it is the west trying to flex its muscle saying we're going to stay engaged in this region and they may think it's for good reasons but a lot of people in the region don't see it that way. there's a degree of cynicism in what you're saying there and i don't think that i share it w

for a tunisian egypt and you know a lot of people that are critical of western involvement in north africa would say you know you know the money might come but there's going to be all these strings attached and it's going to be the west involving itself in this very complicated and long term transformation i mean is is that it's shows it is the west trying to flex its muscle saying we're going to stay engaged in this region and they may think it's for good reasons but a lot of people in the region don't see it that way. there's a degree of cynicism in what you're saying there and i don't think that i share it what we're seeing in the arab world especially in tunisia and egypt is there is a nascent movement toward something that's a lot more in our interest in a lot more in their interest and more particularly and that is a more progressive and a more democratic government society we we can't. i don't have the smarts to be able to direct that kind of thing but we do have the capacity to to assistant and to and to back them up as they go ahead. it may be that we're in financial difficulties

he is an expert on north africa. as we begin to look at the creation of a post-gaddafi libya, how important is the role played by people who belong to the libyan returning to their country is going to be? >> they will play a very decisive role. back in the 1990's, 100,000 indians left gaddafi's country. -- with the end of left gaddafi's country. gaddafi was not interested in private enterprise and he did not like intellectuals forming their own ideas. a large proportion of them lived in great britain. their financial support of the new libya will be very decisive in forging this new libya. >> when we talk about this new libya, how will it -- they're constantly calling for western democracy. is that a fair demand? >> it is necessary to talk about human rights. it is very dangerous to constantly remind people in the arab world of what western democracy looks like. many people do not believe in our values. it would be more advisable should you remain a little bit more cautious, more humble. arabs are able to manage thei

>> i do believe that there has been contagion in the long standing hypocrisies in north africa. i'm not puzzled by why it has happened there. [unintelligible] >> they were ripe for that. >> perhaps also, there is the factor that i cannot help but think of bahrain, when you raised the question, an uprising that was put down temporarily. i do not think we have seen the end of the opposition in bahrain. the countries in north africa were not next door to a large arab country like sour -- like saudi arabia that was willing to intervene in all kinds of ways, including militarily, in order to put down these uprisings. other questions? >> thank you. >> can you speak up a little bit. >> a question concerning the external influence, which was addressed before. i would like if possible for you to expand on the possible role of russia and china when it comes to the influence of economic influence. >> well, you know, you can expect the chinese to what some of the oil action, and that is why it is important to establish a level playing field for oil and gas for libya. first, russia is a conc

so i mean we've seen very important development in our region and in north africa it's not only about the people in the region today justice and dignity are among the requirements of all human beings africa has the same aspirations and i think our region has the ability to run our own countries and they have the ability to reach their goals and objectives it's important to take note on the interference of nato in the region nato to interfere in the affairs of libya and security council has made a mistake instead of sending bombs and planes to libya they should have sent mediation groups in order to prepare for free elections under the auspices of the un and whoever won the elections would be acceptable for the people or the security council hastily issued a resolution and it has complicated the situation that has led to the killings and the massacre of people and destruction of infrastructure in the country. do you think around needs to liberalize do you think you should introduce more political reforms that maybe head off something similar happening in this country as well at some po

the collapse of the regime after six months of conflict is a historic development in north africa and for nato, in a pivotal moment in the arab awakening. it seems each august when policymakers the world over seek to take a break from the daily grind, the world events just won't cooperate. indeed, earthquakes and hurricanes notwithstanding, this august is no different as what was seen until recently as the stalemate in north africa has rapidly turned into the reality of a post-gadhafi a libya. as atlantis is, some of the celtic league what is unfolding in the middle east and north africa is the fourth graders challenge to translate communities since world war ii. world war ii itself, the cold war, the cold war aftermath, the collapse of the soviet union leading to the enlargement of the nato and european union, and transformation of the middle east in middle east into north africa. it's clear that now more than ever the atlantic communities response can't be the united states of the. indeed, europe despite facing its own economic crisis has more at stake and more proximity and must be

recent events throughout the middle east and north africa have increased turkey's strategic importance as a center of power in this complex region. there's little doubt that turkey will continue to play an influential role in many of the national security threats facing the united states. i remain a proponent of a strong by lateral relationship with -- bilateral relationship with turkey. however, it's also important to recognize where we have differences. turkey's troops continue to occupy the island of cyprus and the turkey government needs to have a just solution in cyprus. turkey's vote against a fourth round of sanctions in the u.n. security council raises concerns that the u.s. and turkey do not share the same threat assessment with respect to iran's nuclear weapons program. so i want to just briefly introduce our two nominees and i know that senator lieberman is here to provide an introduction for ambassador eisen. so i will let him do most of that introduction. as i mentioned, senator casey will be introduced our second panel nominee, ambassador ford, when he gets here. i want t

i do not think we have seen the end of serious opposition in bahrain, but the countries in north africa are not next door to a large arab countries like saudi arabia that was willing to intervene in all kinds of ways, including militarily, to put down these uprisings. other questions? >> thank you. >> can you speak up a little bit? >> just a question concerning the external influence, which was addressed before. i would like, if possible, to expand on the possible role of russia and china, in particular when it comes to economic interest. >> you know, i think we can expect the chinese to want some of the oil action. no doubt about it. this is of course to establish sooner rather than later a level playing field for oil and gas from libya. so far as the russians are concerned, i have not seen the same kind of concern about libya from the russians that you see about syria. syria is something they are very serious about. in a very real sense, libya is just a gas competitor to russia. hour that took place in ireland's lower house of parliament. >> ireland is perps unshockable when it comes

may with the story that made all the news headlines for the past six months that's unfolded in north africa in the middle east it's been the arab spring what are your views on the arab spring and we've spoken about it before but i just wanted to hear your latest thoughts do you think it's a popular uprising for the battle to bring democracy or you think it's only maybe there's been all chris traded from abroad over two years or so little we have seen very important developments in our region and in north africa there are a few important things we must pay attention to. is not only about other peoples in the region been a war is not satisfied with the current status in the world there are class distinctions there are pressures there are conflicts arms catholics and a large number of nations in the world are being humiliated all the time today just as dignity are among the requirements of all human beings are all the nations are seeking to gain justice that is important to be taken out of the interference of nato in the region later or has interference in the affairs of libya the security cou