Despite differences over human rights and religious freedom, China and Germany are together against military operations in North Africa. Tripoli bishop says the armed conflict could “have been avoided”, that “bombs compromise everything”. NATO takes over the no fly zone.

Beijing (AsiaNews) – China has joined Germany against the international military intervention in Libya. Although the two nations hold profoundly different views on human rights, religious freedom and international trade, Beijing and Berlin share doubts about the action undertaken by the international community against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

A press release posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website said that Minister Yang Jiechi spoke with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle to discuss the Libyan situation, laying out China’s position and principles over the intervention. Beijing abstained from the UN Security Council vote that authorised the military intervention in Libya.

“We hope that the situation in Libya returns to peace and stability as quickly as possible, avoiding an escalation in armed conflict and an even more serious humanitarian crisis,” Yang told Westerwelle, according to the Chinese account. Yang insisted on the need to preserve “the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Libya”.

Westerwelle will visit China next week for talks that will certainly cover the crisis in Libya.

The bishop of Tripoli, Mgr John Innocenzo Martinelli, also spoke about the issue. Yesterday, he said that the armed conflict could “have been avoided”. In his view, “a few days before Sarkozy decided to bomb, there were some real openings for mediation, but the bombs compromise everything.”

In the meantime, the issue of who should lead Operation Dawn Odyssey has been settled. NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the alliance “is to take responsibility for the no-fly zone”, hitherto led by the United States. However, other aspects will remain in the hands of the current coalition.

The decision is important because it meets Italy’s objection to a joint Franc-British command of the intervention. However, it allows for too many loopholes to the objections of members like Turkey and Germany, who are totally opposed to the mission’s goals and the means to achieve them.

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