Azerbaijan, Baku, March 10 /Trend/
France has become the first major European power to recognise Libya's opposition National Council as the country's legitimate representative, Al Jazeera reported.
The move, which will see an ambassador sent to the rebel-held town of Benghazi, was announced during a meeting between envoys from the council and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, in Paris on Thursday.
Sarkozy plans to re-open the Libyan embassy in Paris and implement a reciprocal arrangement where France will open an embassy in Benghazi, Tim Friend, Al Jazeera's correspondent in France, said.
"This is a very significant statement of intent which reinforces France's recognition that the Libyan transitional National Council is the legitimate body now representing Libya, they're the people they want to talk to," he said.
"I think France has gone further than anoyne else so far in doing that."