NATO pledges assistance to Libya

BRUSSELS, March 6 (UPI) -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow reaffirmed NATO's commitment to Libya during a Ministerial Conference in Rome on Thursday.

"NATO stands ready to help in areas where the Libyan Government needs our help and where we can add value."

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, accompanied by his senior a delegation, participated in the conference.

Vershbow acknowledged that while "Libya has already come a long way... there is still much to do."

The first priority, Vershbow said, was to advise the Libyan government concerning the establishment of a national security strategy. “We could then also give advice on the adaptation of Libya’s existing security architecture to make sure that is compatible with the new policy framework."

NATO's assistance to Libya will remain advisory and, the deputy secretary general said, "not seek to establish a full-time presence on the ground in Libya."

[NATO]