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What are the intentions of the Qadhafi’s regime? Is it possible to return to the monarchy and what is the position of the West on this prospect?

The Qaddafi regime is estimated that it heads towards finding a political solution that will lead to the crisis defuse. In this context, the yesterday's visit to Athens of Libyan acting Foreign Minister and former Minister of State responsible for European Affairs, Abdul Ati al-Obeidi as Qadaffi’s envoy took place. Athens is perceived as an honest broker by the regime in Libya which apparently is one of the two sides that should come into terms in finding any political solution.

According to an article published in The New York Times yesterday evening, the regime in Libya appears willing to cooperate with the transitional government in Benghazi for an interim period of time so that a new system of governance emerges, the system of constitutional monarchy.

The diplomatic activity of the Libyan regime is felicitous and aims to meet one of the main demands of the citizens of eastern Libya. Firm demand of the citizens in eastern Libya is the establishment of a constitutional rather than a presidential system of governance which in many aspects resembles with the constitutional monarchy of Idris Sanusi that existed the period before 1969. The demand envisions the acquisition of a great degree of autonomy within, however, the existent geographic national boundaries.

In this sense, it is not mere coincidence that the 11-member transitional government in Benghazi includes – among others - a relative of the exiled monarch. It is also not coincidence that the heir of the royal family Seyed Idris al-Sanusi, who was born in Benghazi, is the head of the Sanusi movement which enjoys the support of the majority of the tribes in Libya. It is worth noting that in 2003 during the war in Iraq, Libyan colonel Qadhafi proposed to Seyed Idris the position of the prime minister of Libya acknowledging on the one hand the popular support of the royal heir and attempting on the other hand to strengthen the legitimacy of his regime. Coming to the turbulent and violent situation of today, Seyed Idris made his presence clear and issued a statement according to which “he is ready to return to Libya”.

It is clear that at this point of time all options are open in finding a political and diplomatic solution that will provide the western coalition a dignified exit from Libya.

We have witnessed protests and heavy clashes between protesters and police in Syria in recent days. The bloody protests in Yemen also continue. Is there a common cause of unrest in the countries of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula? What is the reason for them?  

It is indeed clear that a revolutionary movement is spreading across the Arab world from North Africa to the Persian Gulf and is attributed to two major factors. One factor is the global financial crisis which increased the level of poverty and the second factor is the demand for political reforms reinforced by the use of Internet and the Arab satellite TV stations. Protestors in the riots demand the introduction of political reforms, the fight of economic corruption, the respect of human rights and the promotion of the freedom of the press.