Abdel Rahman Shalgham
Encyclopedia
Abdel Rahman Shalgam (born 1949) is a Libya
n politician. He was Foreign Minister
of Libya
from 2000 to 2009.
From 1984 to 1995, before taking the office of Foreign Minister
, Abdel Rahman Shalgham
was Secretary (Ambassador
) of Libya's People's Bureau (Libyan Embassy) to Rome
, Italy
.
From 1998 to 2000 he was appointed Secretary
of Foreign Affairs
at the Secretariat of the General People's Congress
of Libya
.
During Shalgham's tenure of office, a relative thaw in US-Libyan relations came about, with high-level contacts being maintained between Libya and the State Department.
Shalgham was replaced as Foreign Minister by Moussa Koussa on 4 March 2009 and was instead appointed as Libya's representative at the United Nations Security Council
, where Libya had a non-permanent seat until 31 December 2009. He remains Libya's ambassador to the UN as of early 2011.
. Most of the UN's Libyan delegation had abandoned the regime of Muammar Gaddafi
four days earlier. Shalgham, who had been friends with Gaddafi for years, initially "could not believe" Gaddafi was firing on his own people, but could no longer support his government after Gaddafi publicly called for the protests to be put down by force. Partly due to his lobbying, the Security Council passed Resolution 1970
, which imposed harsh sanctions against Libya and referred the situation to the International Criminal Court. Shalgham applauded the resolution, saying it would "help put an end to this fascist regime, which is still in existence in Tripoli."
On 5 March, Shalgam was appointed emissary to the UN by the National Transitional Council
. Earlier that day, the Libyan government had notified the UN of its desire to replace Shalgam as the Libyan representative, appointing Ali Treki as its new envoy in his place.
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n politician. He was Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
from 2000 to 2009.
From 1984 to 1995, before taking the office of Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
, Abdel Rahman Shalgham
Abdel Rahman Shalgham
Abdel Rahman Shalgam is a Libyan politician. He was Foreign Minister of Libya from 2000 to 2009.From 1984 to 1995, before taking the office of Foreign Minister, Abdel Rahman Shalgham was Secretary of Libya's People's Bureau to Rome, Italy.From 1998 to 2000 he was appointed Secretary of Foreign...
was Secretary (Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
) of Libya's People's Bureau (Libyan Embassy) to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
From 1998 to 2000 he was appointed Secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
at the Secretariat of the General People's Congress
General People's Congress
The General People's Congress is the ruling political party in Yemen.Was founded in August 24, 1982 in Sana'a, YemenAt the last legislative elections, 27 April 2003, the party won 58.0% of the popular vote and 238 out of 301 seats in the Assembly of Representatives of Yemen....
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
During Shalgham's tenure of office, a relative thaw in US-Libyan relations came about, with high-level contacts being maintained between Libya and the State Department.
Shalgham was replaced as Foreign Minister by Moussa Koussa on 4 March 2009 and was instead appointed as Libya's representative at the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
, where Libya had a non-permanent seat until 31 December 2009. He remains Libya's ambassador to the UN as of early 2011.
2011 Libyan civil war
On 25 February, Shalgham denounced the Libyan regime in a speech before the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
. Most of the UN's Libyan delegation had abandoned the regime of Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
four days earlier. Shalgham, who had been friends with Gaddafi for years, initially "could not believe" Gaddafi was firing on his own people, but could no longer support his government after Gaddafi publicly called for the protests to be put down by force. Partly due to his lobbying, the Security Council passed Resolution 1970
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 was a measure adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on 26 February 2011. It condemned the use of lethal force by the regime of Muammar Gaddafi against protesters participating in the 2011 Libyan civil war, and imposed a series of...
, which imposed harsh sanctions against Libya and referred the situation to the International Criminal Court. Shalgham applauded the resolution, saying it would "help put an end to this fascist regime, which is still in existence in Tripoli."
On 5 March, Shalgam was appointed emissary to the UN by the National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
. Earlier that day, the Libyan government had notified the UN of its desire to replace Shalgam as the Libyan representative, appointing Ali Treki as its new envoy in his place.
External links
- Speech at UNE in 2010
- Talking to media at UN headquarters after giving a speech on the state of Libya's political upheaval
- Abdurrahman M. Shalgam - Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the UN.. In: Mission Staff, CV Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative.