German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas confirmed that retired Major General Khalifa Hifter before participating in the Berlin conference on the crisis in Libya, and announced his commitment to comply with the ceasefire. This came after Al-Wefaq Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj confirmed his participation in the conference scheduled for next Sunday.
The German Foreign Ministry quoted Mas as saying after visiting the city of Benghazi in eastern Libya that Haftar was ready to contribute to the success of the Berlin conference, and he is committed to the ceasefire, and is also ready to attend the conference.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented that Haftar's readiness to adhere to the ceasefire is a good message for the Berlin conference, adding that the most important thing to focus on at the conference is to return to the commitment to the arms embargo to the parties to the conflict.
Merkel said during a press conference with the Croatian Prime Minister on Thursday that "during the Libyan conference, we must first of all see the renewed commitment to the arms embargo agreed at the United Nations, but unfortunately it has not been adhered to."
Merkel considered that the continued entry of weapons and the interference of external actors would exacerbate the crisis in Libya, considering that the conference is not the end but rather just the beginning of a political process led by the United Nations.
For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against continued foreign support for the warring parties in Libya.
European deficit
Al-Sarraj confirmed that he would participate in the conference, and said in his meeting with political and military leaders in his government that he was keen to invite countries that have a relationship with Libyan affairs.
He added that Haftar's failure to sign the ceasefire agreement - which the parties reached in negotiations in Moscow - was aimed at trying to torpedo the Berlin conference before it was held, and he described the role of Turkey and Russia as positive in exchange for what he described as the European impotence towards what is happening in Libya.
On Sunday, Germany will host a summit that brings together the two competing parties in Libya and the foreign powers supporting them, in an effort to end the war on Tripoli and resume talks to reach a power-sharing agreement.
Turkey is sending troops
In a related context, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country is sending forces to Libya to support the legitimate government, adding that by signing a memorandum to demarcate the maritime borders with this country, the plans that were aimed at imprisoning Turkey in a limited area were foiled.
"In order for the legitimate government in Libya to remain steadfast, and in order to achieve stability, we are sending our soldiers to this country," Erdogan said, speaking in Ankara.
He announced a ceasefire last Sunday between the forces of the internationally recognized Libyan government of reconciliation and the forces of General Haftar on the basis of a Turkish-Russian initiative, but intermittent clashes took place later on.