Moscow believes that the Libyan crisis should be resolved peacefully and it does not intend to support or “greenlight” any side to the conflict, according to the head of the Russian Contact Group for the intra-Libyan settlement, Lev Dengov.
“Our policy has not changed. I believe it will not change. We favor political dialogue and peaceful settlement in Libya. We are against any use of force, violence and military methods of settling the intra-Libyan conflict. We do not support any side to the Libyan conflict… As I see it, Russia has no intention to interfere, to block any side or to greenlight it, on the contrary,” Dengov said.
The Russian Embassy in Tripoli
Postponement of GNA Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow
Allegations about mercenaries sent to Libya by Russia
He stressed that all the interested sides understood that it was necessary to comply with UN resolutions.
“We should find out who is interested in maintaining constant chaos in Libya and then make further steps, based upon this information,” Dengov concluded.
Haftar’s Offensive
“In connection with Haftar’s offensive, I can only say one thing: in order to characterise or evaluate his actions, you need to understand how coordinated his steps were. He outlined his mission, so to speak, as the mission of a man who is clearing Libya of terrorists. Unfortunately, we cannot understand who he calls terrorists,” Dengov said. “Such actions should be coordinated with Tripoli and with the Government of National Accord, because for all Libyans terrorists are enemies. Therefore, Libyans cannot be enemies of terrorists on the one hand, and friends of terrorists on the other”.
The situation in Libya, which has been suffering from unrest and been divided between two governments since 2011, deteriorated on April 4, after the east-based Libyan National Army launched an offensive on the Libyan capital of Tripoli, which is controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord. Two days later, the latter announced a counteroffensive dubbed Volcano of Rage.