Libya: Talks in Moscow and the Security Council calls for the removal of mercenaries and the respect of the ceasefire

A delegation of the leaders of the retired Major General Khalifa Haftar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the parallel government of eastern Libya held talks with Russian officials, this comes before a meeting today, Friday, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with Ahmed Maitiq, Vice President of the Libyan Government of National Accord, and for his part called on the UN Security Council to withdraw "mercenaries. Respect the ceasefire.

The foreign government of eastern Libya said that a delegation from the leadership of the retired Major General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the parallel government, Abdul Hadi Al-Hawaij, held a meeting in the Russian capital, Moscow, with Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian President's Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Haftar's Al-Hadath channel, which broadcasts from Benghazi in eastern Libya, stated that the delegation's visit came at the invitation of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a press conference that the talks between Lavrov and Maiteq will focus on issues related to the Libyan settlement and the development of cooperation relations between the two countries.

Haftar enjoys the support of the UAE, Egypt and Russia, especially through the mercenaries of the Special Wagner Group, which is considered close to power in Moscow, while the Government of National Accord has military support from Turkey.

Zakharova: Talks between Lavrov and Mitik will focus on issues related to the Libyan settlement (Anatolia)

Meeting and invitations

These developments come at a time when the UN Security Council called on Thursday evening all Libyan and international parties to fully respect the ceasefire agreement and the arms embargo as stipulated in the relevant council resolutions.

This came in statements made by the President of the Security Council, Tunisian Ambassador Tariq Al-Adab, whose country holds the presidency of the Security Council for the current month, after the end of a closed session of consultations held by the Council on Libya.

Al-Adab said: The members of the Security Council called in the closed session of consultations for the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya without further delay, and the implementation of confidence-building measures in line with the ceasefire agreement reached on October 23, the outcomes of the Berlin conference and the relevant Security Council resolutions. The link.

Guterres to the foreign forces: Leave the Libyans alone (Reuters)

Crisis and Initiatives

Last January, the German capital hosted an international conference on resolving the Libyan crisis, with the participation of 12 countries and 4 international and regional organizations.

Among the most prominent items of his closing statement: the necessity to abide by the ceasefire in accordance with a Turkish-Russian initiative since the 12th of that month, and to return to the political track to address the conflict.

In this context, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said in statements to reporters that "the cease-fire is in place" and stressed the need for all foreign forces and foreign mercenaries to move first to Benghazi and then to Tripoli, and from there they return and leave the Libyans alone, because the Libyans have already demonstrated that they are capable of handling Their problems if they are left alone. "

Libya has been experiencing for years an armed conflict (Reuters)

Claim and support

For his part, two countries were mentioned by name by Richard Mills, Acting US Ambassador to the United Nations.

"We call on all external parties, including Russia, Turkey and the UAE, to respect Libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all forms of military intervention," Mills told the council.

He added, "We call on Turkey and Russia to start immediately withdrawing their forces from the country and to remove foreign mercenaries and military agents who have been recruited, deployed and supported in Libya."

In a related context, the Tunisian ambassador clarified in his statements that the members of the Security Council were informed of the progress made by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, including the adoption of the roadmap for the elections to be held on December 24, 2021 agreed in Tunisia, and the adoption of a selection mechanism for a temporary executive authority.

Earlier yesterday, the European Union’s ambassador to Libya, Jose Sabadell, confirmed the continuation of support for Libya, and the willingness to provide assistance and cooperation with the Libyan side in organizing the upcoming elections.

This was stated during a meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala in the capital, Tripoli.

Libya has suffered, for years, an armed conflict.

With the support of Arab and Western countries, Khalifa Haftar's forces are fighting the internationally recognized government for legitimacy and authority in the oil-rich country.