The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Commander Khalifa Haftar, is ready for a ceasefire in Libya. This was stated by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas following a three-hour negotiations with the military commander in Benghazi.

“He promised - regardless of the fact that he did not sign a ceasefire agreement at the beginning of the week in Moscow - to adhere to a ceasefire. This is crucial, ”said Maas.

The German diplomat also called for dialogue, the head of the Government of National Accord (PNS) Faiz Sarraj, because without this, "nothing will come of it." In addition, Maas touched on the topic of the conference in Berlin, which is scheduled for January 19.

“General Haftar made it clear that he wants to contribute to the success of the Berlin conference on Libya and, in principle, is ready to participate. We will talk about further details in the coming days, ”the German Foreign Minister emphasized.

He added that following the meeting in the German capital, an agreement should be concluded on the introduction of an embargo on arms supplies to the warring parties, and then the process of political settlement will be launched.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel later called "good news" reports of the position held by Haftar.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Council President Charles Michel exchanged views over the Libyan crisis in a telephone conversation, including in the context of preparations for the international conference on Libya in Berlin.

  • Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar
  • Reuters
  • © Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

According to the EU press service, the interlocutors expressed the hope that the warring parties in Libya “will come to an agreement on a ceasefire and resume the political process”, since the crisis creates significant risks for the entire region.

In addition, preparations for the Berlin conference were discussed by the Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Charge d'Affaires of Libya in Moscow Abu Saed.

Along with this, Faiz Sarraj pointed to the positive role of Moscow and Ankara in their work to resolve the Libyan conflict. He also noted that the countries of Europe for nine months could not achieve any positive results.

On January 19, a conference to resolve the situation in Libya should be held in Berlin. It is expected that both opposing parties and representatives of various states will take part in it. Also at the meeting will be attended by UN Secretary General António Guterres.

“An important step towards a political settlement”

As Boris Dolgov, a leading researcher at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted, even before arriving in Moscow, he agreed to a ceasefire.

“But then at the negotiations in Moscow there was a situation where, apparently, some points of the agreement did not suit Haftar, and he had to consult with his supporters. Now the statement has been voiced, voiced by the lips of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs. I remind you that Haftar left Moscow under the pretext that he needs a few days to consult ... Perhaps such a consultation has passed, and Haftar intends to comply with the conditions, ”the expert explained in an interview with RT.

Meanwhile, he considers it a positive moment that the position of the leader of the LNA was voiced precisely by the German Foreign Minister.

“The conference in Berlin is an important step towards a political settlement, but here we must immediately say that the Libyan conflict lasts a long time, and we must remember that responsibility for the situation that has developed in Libya is for the emergence of two centers of power and that there are other forces on the territory of Libya that control part of the territories, the NATO countries bear, ”Dolgov added.

In turn, the deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics of the Moscow State Pedagogical University Vladimir Shapovalov noted that the beginning of the dialogue and the process of resolving the conflict became possible after the meeting in Moscow.

“It was the negotiations in the Russian capital that became the starting point of a complex negotiation process. There is hope that this process will continue in Berlin, that it will give a positive result. It is, of course, necessary to emphasize that there is no reason to count on the fact that all contradictions will be resolved - the degree of confrontation between the two main military-political groups in Libya is too great. There is hope that the efforts of Russia and European countries will bring this conflict into the negotiation track, and this will help achieve peace in the long-suffering Libyan land, where civil war has been going on for nine years, ”the source said.