Right direction, long road ahead

Libya’s interim prime minister, Abdel-Rahim el Keib, at the Carnegie Endowment this morning laid out a clear and unequivocal vision of a well-governed democracy adhering to the rule of law.  El Keib is an electrical engineer who spent decades in the United States before dropping everything to join the revolution in Libya last year.  He cited some steps in the right direction that have already been taken:

• The National Transitional Council (NTC), which is now the interim legislative body, has passed the election law and the election commission appointed.
• Elections for a constituent assembly that will prepare the constitution will take place in June.
• An interministerial committee on human rights has been formed to ensure equal treatment under the law and equal opportunity.
• Youth and women will play a strong role in Libya’s future.
• Civil society will help to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Tripoli is to become a Mediterranean financial center.

None of this will be easy, as the Libyan state has to be rebuilt from scratch.

Asked about the NTC chairman’s statement that the first legislation in the new Libya will reintroduce polygamy, the Prime Minister made reference to hypocritical behavior by Westerners (married men with mistresses) and said bluntly that polygamy will not be important in Libya.

Asked about “militias,” he underlined that these were groups that fought for Libya’s freedom.  They do not have an ethnic or sectarian basis, he claimed.  The government will try to take care of them through a major reintegration project that offers several alternatives:  jobs in the Interior or Defense Ministries, or scholarships, loans and other assistance, provided they turn in their arms.  He also noted that the celebrations last month of the first anniversary of the revolution were peaceful.

El Keib declared himself in favor of decentralization, citing a law for provinces in preparation in the NTC, central government offices already established in Sebha and Benghazi, location of the managed of the Great Man-Made River in Benghazi, and plans for “cyber” government.  He did not comment explicitly on recent political agitation in Benghazi for autonomy.

Noting that Moscow failed to support the revolution, el Keib said Libya will respect contracts with Russian companies and welcome them back, provided there is no corruption involved and no taint of the Qaddafi regime.

On minorities, el Keib underlined the tradition of tolerance in Libyan society and the presence in his cabinet of two women and one Berber.  He failed however to respond directly to a question on restoration of Jewish synagogues and cemeteries, noting only that it was important that minorities not have “hidden agendas.”  His specific meaning was not clear, but the implication was negative.

Taken to task for failing to communicate the government’s work, el Keib emphasized that it is an interim body that neglected initially to do as much as it should and will now try to correct that mistake.  He underlined the government’s commitment to transparency and interest in an upcoming “open government” conference in Brazil.

Despite the occasionally obscure and possibly problematic moment (especially the answers on polygamy and on Jewish property), this is about as good as it gets from leaders in the “Arab spring” countries these days.  El Keib is unquestionably pointed in the right direction.  But the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  The question is whether he can deliver, and in particular whether other forces in Libyan society will allow it.

I’m headed now for another talk on Libya.  I’ll supplement this post if there is anything new to be said.

PS:  There wasn’t much new in the second, off the record event.  The Libyans do not seem to fully understand that their respect for human rights and treatment of minorities, Qaddafites and other at risk populations will be important to how the rest of the world views the results of their revolution.  We sent them home with a clear message to that effect.