By RFIPosted on 13-01-2020Modified on 13-01-2020 at 14:14

The two rivals of the Libyan conflict are expected in Moscow to confirm the cease-fire decided this weekend. Fayez el-Sarraj, the head of the Tripoli-based union government, and Marshal Haftar, the strongman from eastern Libya, are meeting in the Russian capital for much-awaited talks.

With our correspondent in Moscow, Daniel Vallot

The Russian authorities affirmed that the meeting between the two Libyan protagonists was to take place during this day of Monday under the mediation of Russia, but also of Turkey. To prepare for this mediation, the ministers of defense and foreign affairs of the two countries met this morning in Moscow.

According to the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, their Libyan interlocutors were to join them during the day with the aim of formally concluding a ceasefire supposed to set in stone the truce orally accepted by them days.

Towards diplomatic success?

Moscow which spared no efforts to bring in the two main players in the Libyan conflict. For this, it has allied with Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey, which recently entered the conflict on a level footing by announcing the dispatch of troops to Tripoli. For its part, Moscow supported Marshal Haftar, while maintaining contacts with the government of Tripoli. If in the next few hours this ceasefire is officially confirmed, it will undoubtedly constitute a resounding diplomatic success for Moscow and for Ankara.

The Russian press made a parallel this morning between these Russian-Turkish efforts and the Syrian conflict, with the Astana process. It is true that, as in Syria, Moscow and Ankara have chosen to support two opposing camps on the battlefield. This does not visibly prevent them from agreeing to bring them to the negotiating table.

■ The explanations of Fayez el-Sarraj

Before leaving for Moscow, Fayez al-Sarraj, the Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based government, addressed a message to the Libyans. Message in which he denounces the military ambitions of his rival from the East, Marshal Khalifa Haftar and in which he explains his decision to accept the truce.

We have accepted a ceasefire because we are in a position of strength and to preserve national cohesion. But in the event of a ceasefire violation, we are always ready to resume military operations and repel the aggressor.

Fayez el-Sarraj, Prime Minister of the government based in Tripoli

01-13-2020 - By RFI

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