NATO's role in Libya does not include deciding the future of the country and its people, NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola said during a press briefing in Brussels.
"NATO is not engaged in Libya to decide the future of Libya and Libyan people," he said. "That's up to the Libyan themselves."
UN Security Council Resolution 1973, adopted on March 17, imposed a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized measures to protect civilians from forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi, but stopped short of authorizing ground operations in the North African country.
"NATO is operating strictly within the resolution 1970 and 1973," Di Paola said.
"NATO's focus is on protecting civilians and civilian-populated areas against the threat of attack," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a written statement.
A total of 13 countries are carrying out a military operation against Libya in line with the resolution. On Sunday, NATO began taking command of the mission from the United States.
MOSCOW, March 31 (RIA Novosti)
