Libya in the circle of European interest .. Al-Sarraj calls for pressure on Haftar to stop the blockade of oil fields

Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the internationally recognized government of Al-Wefaq, said today, Monday, that Libya will face a catastrophic situation if foreign powers do not pressure retired Major General Khalifa Hifter to stop the blockade of oil fields, which led to the cessation of crude production almost.

He added - in an interview with Reuters - that he rejects Haftar's demands to link the reopening of ports to the redistribution of oil revenues to the Libyans, noting that the income in the end is beneficial to the entire country.

Al-Sarraj announced that he would respect the Berlin Summit's call for a ceasefire and political talks, but he would not sit down again with Haftar.

In the context, according to a document sent to dealers seen by Reuters that the National Oil Corporation in Libya announced the state of force majeure on the crude loading from the oil and spark fields.

The document said that individuals, under the supervision of the oil facilities guards, closed pipelines connecting the Sharara field to the Al-Zawiyah oil port and the Elephant field to the Mleitah port.

Meanwhile, the American ambassador to Libya said in a tweet on Twitter that he held two separate meetings with Haftar and Al-Sarraj to learn about their impressions on the outcome of the Berlin conference.

European interest
Earlier, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas - in a statement to a local radio - indicated that the Libyan dispute settlement mechanism reached by the conference is one of its points under the responsibility of the European Union.

For his part, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that his country and the European Union intend to continue their interest in this issue, and it is scheduled to start later steps at the level of foreign ministers in February.

The European Union foreign ministers will discuss in Brussels mechanisms for implementing the understandings produced by the Berlin Summit on the crisis in Libya.

The European Union expressed its commitment to playing an important role in following up on the outcome of the conference, especially participation in enforcing respect for the ceasefire and banning the supply of weapons to Libya.

There is an urgent need to monitor the cease-fire, he said, but he did not comment on the possibility of sending European troops to participate in this.

Borrell emphasized that the only lasting solution to the crisis is through the United Nations-led mediation efforts and across the political process.

He also called for the re-launch of the Libyan coast observation mission, and ensuring the implementation of the United Nations embargo on the dispatch of weapons to Libya.

In turn, the union's foreign policy coordinator said, "We will work on proposing a team to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire ... and we are committed to engaging more in the Libyan crisis in order to reach a political solution."

He considered that what was reached at the Berlin conference is not a cease-fire, but a truce.

The European coordinator said that the proposed team would include a military-led mission, adding that the arms embargo on Libya would include maritime, air and land borders.

Conference Outputs
In this closing statement, this conference called for a permanent ceasefire, and emphasized that only the Libyan-Libyan dialogue can end the conflict and impose peace.

The statement also called on the Libyan parties and their supporters to end military activities with the start of the ceasefire, and the comprehensive and permanent cessation of all hostilities, and also called on the United Nations to form technical committees to control and monitor the implementation of the ceasefire in Libya.

The meeting urged all Libyan parties to end the transitional period with free, inclusive and fair elections, to establish an effective presidential council, and to form a unified, inclusive, and effective government approved by the parliament. The Berlin statement also stressed the accountability of all violators of international law.

On the other hand, the conference participants affirmed their commitment not to interfere in the armed conflict and internal affairs of Libya, calling for the establishment of an international monitoring committee to continue coordination between all parties.

Cautious calm
On the ground, calm warns of fighting axes prevailing in the south of the capital Tripoli between the forces of Haftar and the forces of the National Accord Government, especially in Salah al-Din, al-Khallat, and Ain Zara.

The forces of the "Barkan Al-Ghazib", an affiliate of the Al-Wefaq government, accused Haftar's forces of violating the armistice and bombing the sites of the Al-Wefaq forces in the Salah al-Din axis south of Tripoli.

Military sources from the Al-Wefaq government forces told the island that Haftar's forces opened fire from several axes, in clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.