Director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Kristian Berg Harpviken has strongly condemned the Libyan conflict, claiming that lives are being lost for no good reason.
“It’s really too early to conclude. We don’t know what the history of Libya will be yet, but it is a pretty entrenched conflict for the moment,” says Mr Harpviken to NRK.
Director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Kristian Berg Harpviken has strongly condemned the Libyan conflict, claiming that lives are being lost for no good reason.
Questions remain over Norway’s involvement in the conflict, even after the return of Norway’s last four F-16s. Mr Harpviken believes that it was not Norway’s place to get involved.
“I’m afraid the operation in Libya may prove to be a step back,” he said, commenting on politicians’ justification of the Libyan operation by citing UN resolution 1973.
“It is obvious to many, including those who supported the operation, this is a principle that politicians use to avoid criticism. What looked like being the protection of civilians has turned out to be an intervention that took sides, partly motivated by participating countries’ own interests.”