Libya’s prime minister says NATO will give technical advice to the Libyan military in terms of training.

Ali Zeidan said on Monday, “NATO will give us technical advice in terms of training, we will have technical support and we will be helped in training if we need so.”

The Libyan premier made the remarks after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Brussels.

Rasmussen stated that the NATO support was about “technical assistance upon request of the Libyan government” and that it should not be considered as NATO deployment of troops to Libya.

The NATO chief added that such a request must be formally approved by the North Atlantic Council.

Earlier in the day, the Libyan prime minister met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU President Herman Van Rompuy.

During the meeting, Zeidan and Barroso discussed the issue of a European Union Association Agreement with Libya.

“We know of course this will take time,” Barroso said, adding, “This agreement will provide the framework of our relations for the long term.”