21 Feb. 2011
Statement by the NATO Secretary General on events in Libya

Press Release (2011) 019
Issued on 21 Feb. 2011
 
I am shocked by the indiscriminate use of violence against peaceful protesters in Libya. I deplore the loss of life. I call on the Libyan authorities to stop the repression of unarmed civilians.
The people of Libya, like many others in the wider Middle East, have expressed a strong desire for democratic change. Their legitimate aspirations must be addressed. Freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental rights which cannot be denied.

As the Secretary General of an alliance of democracies, I strongly believe that democracy is the only solid basis for long-lasting stability. In the long run, no society can ignore the will of the people, because the desire for freedom resides in every human being.