Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned that Muammar Gaddafi, challenged by a wave of protests in his country, knows very well to cling to power and rejected the idea that the Libyan leader is “delusional”.
“Obviously it is not the case”, Blair said during the show “State of the Union” on television channel CNN. “Some are sure that (Gaddafi) is delusional. But he’s been in power for 40 years”, he said.
The coalition led by Washington, Paris and London began an offensive in Libya on March 19, after receiving the approval of the United Nations, supporting rebels fighting against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.
The Libyan conflict, Tony Blair argued, “can not end unless there is a concerted transition process in Libya (…). The status quo is not an option”.
“I think some people (in the Gaddafi’s entourage) tell him: «Listen, the only reasonable way out is to put in place a concerted transition process»”, said Blair.
Former British prime minister is the special envoy for the Middle East Quartet comprising the United States, Russia, UN and EU. According to him, the riots in the Arab world complicate the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel had a stable relationship with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, who resigned in February.
“And now, the situation is unpredictable”, said Tony Blair to CNN. “We must understand that the only solution is to accept that we are moving towards a viable Palestinian state, governed fairly and firmly. It is the best guarantee for Israel’s security”, he added.