Merkel receives Hifter and stresses the need for a political solution in Libya

Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel received the leader of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, in the capital, Berlin, and exchanged views with him on the situation in the Libyan crisis.

A German government spokesman, Stephen Seibert, stated that the chancellor stressed that "this conflict cannot be resolved militarily, and that it is for this reason that it is necessary to implement a truce and achieve progress in the political process, in accordance with the decisions of the Berlin Conference." The German chancellor also stressed that "the ceasefire and progress in the political process are necessary for this reason."

Haftar and Merkel discussed, during the meeting, the evaluation of the current political and field situation in Libya, and ways to implement the outputs of the Berlin Conference, which were agreed upon between the parties to the conflict last January, especially the item related to the cease-fire, and the resumption of political negotiations.

It is noteworthy that the actors in the Libyan crisis met at the Chancellery Court, on the nineteenth of last January, in order to strengthen the armistice that was previously agreed upon in Libya, and to agree on a consistent implementation of the arms embargo to Libya, but then repeated violations occurred.

Haftar met in Paris the day before yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron and the French Foreign, Interior and Defense Ministers.

A source in the Elysee Palace said that Haftar confirmed, during his meeting with Macron, that he was committed to the cease-fire, if respected by the armed militias of the forces of the government of reconciliation. Violations of the ceasefire in the capital, Tripoli, are still continuing, despite the conclusion of a truce between the two parties, and the recommendation of the UN Security Council on the necessity of a ceasefire, as most axes witnessed, during the past days, military operations from both sides.

• During the meeting, the political and field situation in Libya was evaluated, and the ways of implementing the outputs of the Berlin conference.