(Image Source: Flikr/WorldEconomicForum)

BY CAMILLE MAESTRACCI

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy. 

A big day for the French President. Nicolas Sarkozy headed the “friends of Libya summit” in Paris with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The reunion celebrates the recent military victory in Libya and marks the start of political transition. Sarkozy received National Transitional Council chief  Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who led the rebellion against Gaddafi. 60 NATO leaders attended. France was the first country to recognize rebel authority in March and was key in the effort to depose Gaddafi. (euronews)

According to The Hudson New York, France deserves credit for its handling of the situation and its action may announce a shift in its diplomatic posture.

“The success of Sarkozy's and France's policy in Libya might be a sign that France could be ready to abandon its Gaullist ‘prickly style’ … and may presage an enduring shift in France's overall foreign policy towards a less automatic anti-US and anti-NATO posture.”

Right-wing newspaper Le Figaro focused on America’s reaction to Sarkozy’s leadership:

“France has won the Pentagon’s respect”

“In the United States, people consider France’s role crucial as well as Nicolas Sarkozy’s.”

While Sarkozy received mostly accolades, European media took a more sarcastic tone. The German online magazine Der Spiegel teases French pride.


“The Paris setting for the "Friends of Libya" summit is also not a coincidence. French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to position himself as the man responsible for the dictator's fall.”

The BBC acknowledged France’s leading role, but didn’t hesitate in recalling its failure to manage earlier events during the Arab Spring.

“Now there’s plenty of thinking to be done about what comes next, but there’s no doubt the last six months has helped erase memories of French inaction when the Arab Spring began.”

French journal Liberation says Sarkozy might have been working out of special interest and not goodwill. It alleges he might have made a secret agreement with Libya’s new leaders for oil. So far, both parties deny that claim.


Transcript by Newsy.