Ghassan Salame, UN Special Representative in Libya - Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salamé, said the country "needs all foreign interference to stop", in an interview with AFP on Saturday, on the eve of an international conference in Berlin to try to end the Libyan conflict. "Any foreign interference can have an aspirin effect in the short term," said Ghassan Salamé in a reference in particular to the cease-fire that came into effect on January 12 in Libya, on the initiative of Moscow and Ankara.

"But Libya needs all foreign interference to stop. This is one of the objectives of this conference "in the German capital, he assured. The leaders of the world powers and of the countries involved in the conflict in Libya will meet there on Sunday, in particular to "consolidate the cease-fire".

"Because today we simply have a truce. We want to transform it into a real cease-fire with observation, separation (from the two rival camps, note), repositioning of heavy weapons (outside of urban areas), etc. This truce must hold, "he insisted.

Moscow to maneuver?

The Head of the Government of National Unity (GNA) recognized by the UN, Fayez al-Sarraj, and the strong man from the east, Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have opposed the gates of Tripoli for more than nine months , in the west, had been asked to sign a ceasefire agreement in Moscow on Monday.

Ankara supports Fayez al-Sarraj, including militarily, while Moscow, despite its denials, is suspected of supporting Marshal Haftar with weapons, money and mercenaries.

If Fayez al-Sarraj signed the text of the agreement on Monday, his rival finally left, to everyone's surprise, without doing so, after first asking for a period of reflection. The two men were invited to Berlin, but Ghassan Salamé "does not believe" that they can reach an agreement during the conference.

In their final declaration, the heads of state should also commit themselves to respecting the arms embargo imposed on Libya since 2011, but which has remained a dead letter.

They must also underline their support for the revival of the political process, through an inter-Libyan meeting scheduled for before the end of the month in Geneva, according to Ghassan Salamé.

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