Croatia and Bulgaria on Friday together recognised the Libyan Interim National Council as Libya's legitimate authorities and called for refraining from acts of revenge and for building democracy in the country that is going through the last days of Muammar Gaddafi's dictatorship.
"Croatia and Bulgaria confirm once again that they recognise the Interim National Council, this time as Libya's legitimate authorities, and that they will support the Council's efforts to establish peace and the rule of law throughout the country and build a democratic state, including the organisation of free elections," reads a joint statement signed by the foreign ministers of Croatia and Bulgaria, Gordan Jandrokovic and Nikolay Mladenov respectively.
Croatia and Bulgaria recognised the political body of Libyan rebels as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people on June 28, and the latest statement is the continuation of diplomatic cooperation between Croatia and Bulgaria, which is a member of the international Libya Contact Group.
"Gaddafi's time is over, whether he is aware of that or not. The crimes of his regime must be investigated, and all those responsible for them prosecuted. He and his supporters will have to answer before the International Criminal Court," reads the statement.
Jandrokovic and Mladenov say in the statement that time has come to build a democratic Libya based on the rule of law and that the Interim National Council, which so far has been in charge of the struggle for freedom, can run the transitional political process only if it has broad representation.
"This important historical moment for the Libyan people must not be tainted by retaliation and violence, it must mark a time of reconciliation, building of national unity and peaceful transition," the two ministers said, adding that they were looking forward to renewed diplomatic presence in Tripoli and to helping the Libyan people on the path to democracy.
