The commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Marshal Khalifa Haftar, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his efforts in support of a peaceful settlement in Libya. This was reported by the Kremlin press service with reference to the text of Haftar’s letter.

“Thank you and express full support for the Russian initiative for holding peace talks in Moscow, which should lead to peace in Libya. I confirm that we are ready to accept your invitation to visit the Russian Federation to continue the dialogue that has begun, ”the letter says.

It also became known that Putin will attend the International Conference on Libya, which will be held January 19 in Berlin. During it, an exchange of views on resolving the conflict in the country and launching a political dialogue under the auspices of the UN is planned.

In this regard, at the initiative of the German side, the Russian president held telephone conversations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Kremlin said. Details of the conversation are not reported. The leaders also discussed preparations for the conference during a January 13 telephone conversation.

“It is important to put an end to the armed confrontation between the Libyan National Army of Marshal Haftar and the Government of National Accord of Mr. Saraj, establish a ceasefire, take measures to resume the political process with the ultimate goal of overcoming the split within the country and the formation of unified state institutions,” the Russian leader noted during the meeting with Merkel, which took place on January 11.

  • Head of the LNA Khalifa Haftar
  • © ARIS MESSINIS / AFP

“We will not sit at the same table”

The intra-Libyan conflict has actually continued since 2011, when leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. After this, a power standoff is waged between the interim government led by Abdullah at-Thani, appointed by the parliament in Tobruk and supported by the LNA, and the government of national consent led by Faiz Sarraj.

The parties tried to come to an agreement by creating a Government of National Accord, but the dialogue was at an impasse. At the beginning of 2019, Haftar launched an attack on the capital of Tripoli, where the PNS sits.

Russia has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict - on January 8, Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following talks, called on both sides of the conflict to establish a ceasefire from January 12 at midnight.

The Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (PNS) announced the cessation of hostilities, while warning that they would respond to any violation of the silence regime.

On January 13, Haftar and Sarraj arrived in Moscow to participate in the negotiations.

At the same time, during their visit, a draft ceasefire agreement was drawn up, but Haftar refused to sign it. According to Lavrov, following the meeting, the agreement was signed by the chairman of the Libyan state council Khaled Mishri and Sarraj.

  • Reuters
  • © Goran Tomasevic

Both Haftar and Sarraj will take part in the conference in Berlin on January 19. TASS, citing a source in Libyan diplomatic circles, reports that Haftar intends to leave for Moscow after the conference.

“Now the field marshal is in Athens, from where he will leave for Berlin. The dates of the visit to Moscow are not yet known, but it will take place after the Berlin conference, ”the agency quoted the interlocutor as saying.

However, Turkey is supporting the PNS, which it considers a legitimate government. Earlier, parliament approved the sending of Turkish troops to Libya, and on January 16, Erdogan said that the military began to arrive in the country.

“Turkey is sending troops to Libya to support the legitimate Libyan president,” he said.