LIBYAN MILITIAS GET AN ULTIMATUM
Amid deepening conflict in Libya between the central government, the Interior Ministry, and various militias, the U.S. and others hope to create a a trained Libyan military organization called the General Purpose Force, to fill the country's security vacuum. The force will be loyal to the central government and eventually form the core of a new national army. The U.S., Britain, and Italy have agreed to train 5,000-8,000 troops to “NATO standards” at the request of Prime Minister Zeidan. The troops will be selected by the Libyan defense minister and will be taken outside Libya for military instruction. The government is contending with powerful armed groups and a sharp divide between liberal-leaning and Islamist groups. This week the government gave militas a December 15 ultimatum to end their takeover of oil fields and ports that has severely curtailed the country’s oil exports. Militia fighters will stop getting government salaries on December 15 unless they join the military. (The Washington Post December 1, 2013, World Tribune December 3, 2013)
EGYPT AMENDS CONSTITUTION
A nationwide referendum to ratify the newly-amended Egyptian constitution will take place within 30 days. The amendments give the military more privileges, grant personal and political rights to Egyptian citizens that were not emphasized in previous constitutions, and give the armed forces the exclusive right of naming the defense minister for the next two presidential terms. The leadership hopes the charter will win by a greater margin than the 2012 version. The constitutional panel, dominated by liberals, also provided for greater women's and children's rights and freedom of belief. The new constitution does not have some of the ultra-conservative provisions of the included in the previous version drafted by the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government, but the "principles" of Shariah are still the basis for legislation. Presidential and parliamentary elections are to follow the referendum. (USA Today December 2, 2013, ABC News December 3, 2013)
BAGHDAD WILL CONTROL KURD OIL EXPORTS
In an agreement that could mark an end to a longstanding dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi central government, the self-governed Kurds have agreed to allow Baghdad to control their oil exports via the government-run export pipeline to Turkey. The KRG has been sending oil exports to Turkey via truck for years, infuriating the central government in Iraq, and shut-down the major government-run pipeline to Turkey a year ago over a revenue-sharing dispute with Baghdad. Now, Iraq’s oil ministry suggests an agreement has been reached in which the central government will operate a metering system for oil exports to Turkey and the revenues will be deposited into Iraq’s UN-administered account for crude oil sales. Despite this apparent progress, there are still several financial details to be worked out, and its unclear how the KRG-Baghdad pact aligns with the deal the KRG struck with Turkey, and whether or not the KRG plans to build a asecond pipeline to Turkey from their territory. (Bloomberg December 3, 2013,
The New York Times December 2, 2013)
ISRAEL PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN AID TO SYRIANS