Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Bogadom revealed his country’s efforts to cease fire in Libya and resume political dialogue between the Libyan parties, while Turkey stipulated the withdrawal of the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar from Sirte and Jafra before any negotiation.
"The Algerian-Tunisian intention is good and we have no interest. We have no oil or economic interest. We want security, stability and respect for Libyan unity, territorial integrity and unity of decision," the Algerian minister said in a joint press conference with his Tunisian counterpart Noureddine El-Ray in a visit to Tunisia Monday.
For his part, the Tunisian foreign minister said, "We are looking for practical proposals that will push for real dialogue and an active role for Tunisia and Algeria in this file."
The statements of the two ministers come in light of Algerian moves and contacts that support a way map to solve the Libyan crisis and lead to elections.
Earlier on Monday, the Algerian President renewed in an interview with the French newspaper L'Opinion his country's offer to embrace a dialogue between the parties to the Libyan crisis, calling for commitment to a political track, according to a road map ending with elections, within a maximum period of 3 years.
Turkey and Europe
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo أوlu reiterated that a political solution is the only solution in Libya, but at the same time he demanded the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar to withdraw from Sirte and Jafra before talking about a ceasefire agreement.
He stressed that the cease-fire that will be declared will not be in the interest of the Al-Wefaq government, indicating that the Al-Sarraj government has concerns, because it believes that Haftar is not sincere, and that it will be a step only to save him, noting that Turkey shares the same belief as the Libyan government.
Gawishoglu noted that preparations for a military operation in Sirte are under way, and that the reconciliation government will not fail to implement it in the event that Haftar elements do not withdraw from the city.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his country that resolving the conflict in Libya could not be military, and called for the need to continue the dialogue between the Libyan parties in order to reach a ceasefire.
Macron criticized what he described as foreign interference in the Libyan conflict, adding that stability in Libya is important to the security of the European Union, France and the African Sahel region.
In turn, German Foreign Minister Haikou Maas said that the European Union does not want Libya to be a spoil shared by Turkey and Russia, adding to the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels that it is not in anyone's interest for Libya to turn into a new Syria.
On Sunday, the Libyan army affiliated to the National Accord Government announced that it would reinforce its defense system in preparation for a possible battle in the city of Sirte, and would form a joint force to secure the western region after the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar were expelled from it.