"Some progress has been achieved," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a press conference after ceasefire negotiations in Moscow on Monday (January 13th). in Libya which lasted about seven hours.
The head of government recognized by the UN (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, and the strong man of the East, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, whose troops have opposed for more than nine months at the gates of Tripoli, are moved to Moscow for these talks. The two men did not meet physically, however.
Fayez al-Sarraj signed the draft ceasefire agreement, while Khalifa Haftar asked "a little extra time until the morning" to reflect, said Sergey Lavrov, while ensuring that the marshal considers this document "positively".
Observation mission under discussion
At the same time, discussions were under way at the United Nations on the establishment of an observation mission if such a cease-fire was concluded. "In order for a ceasefire in Libya to be respected, there should be an impartial monitoring and implementation mechanism as well as confidence-building measures," the spokesman said. ONU, Stéphane Dujarric.
The discussions, which illustrate Moscow's growing influence in this thorny issue, were chaired by Sergei Lavrov and the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, as well as by their Turkish counterparts, Mevlut Cavusoglu and Hulusi Akar.
The draft agreement, of which AFP has obtained a copy, supports the Russian-Turkish initiative to establish "an unlimited cessation of hostilities" in Libya. He advocates "the normalization of daily life in Tripoli and other cities" and the "safe" access and distribution of humanitarian aid.
International conference possible on January 19
Ankara supports Fayez al-Sarraj and even deploys soldiers to do so, while Moscow, despite its denials, is suspected of supporting Marshal Haftar with weapons, money and mercenaries.
As a sign of their growing weight in the chaos of Libya and despite their rivalry on the ground, the Russian and Turkish presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced on January 8 the cease-fire which came into force on Sunday.
The truce should lead to an international conference on Libya under the aegis of the UN in Berlin, which could be held on January 19, according to the Germans.
With AFP
Newsletter Don't miss anything from international news
Don't miss anything from international newssubscribe
google-play-badge_FR