By RFIPosted on 30-12-2019Changed on 30-12-2019 at 19:14

Emmanuel Macron discussed the risk of military escalation in Libya by telephone with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. Turkey is considering direct military intervention in support of the National Union Government of Fayez-al-Sarraj while Russia continues to support the forces of Marshal Haftar, the strongman from eastern Libya.

Emmanuel Macron and Abdel Fattah al-Sissi call " all international and Libyan actors to the greatest restraint ". If the French and Egyptian presidents want a political agreement to be reached and Libya to regain " full sovereignty ", this must be done within the framework of the United Nations, according to the two heads of state.

This communication comes as President Erdogan shows his openness to direct intervention in Libya . The Turkish parliament must decide on January 7 on the sending of troops to support the forces of Tripoli.

In late November, Turkey signed two agreements with the FNA al-Sarraj GNA. One concerns military cooperation and the assistance that Turkey could bring to the GNA in its fight against the troops of Marshal Haftar. The second concerns maritime sovereignty.

UN worries

During their telephone exchange, the two French and Egyptian presidents pointed to the agreement on maritime sovereignty. It allows Turkey to assert rights over large areas in the eastern Mediterranean rich in hydrocarbons, in areas claimed by Greece. An agreement " contrary to the law of the sea ", underline Emmanuel Macron and Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.

This call for restraint is launched while Ghassan Salamé, head of the UN mediation on Libya, worries, in an interview with the newspaper Le Monde . " We are facing a problem of serious gravity ," said the UN representative, who recalls that the Security Council has so far failed to find a way out and enforce the delivery embargo. of arms to Libya. Ever stronger foreign interference which, according to Ghassan Salamé, brings into play the credibility of the United Nations.

The Arab League is holding an urgent meeting on the situation in Libya on Tuesday at Cairo's request, the Pan-Arab organization, based in the Egyptian capital, said on Monday.

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