The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that on Monday inter-Libyan contacts under the auspices of the Heads of the Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministries and Ministries of Defense will be held, which are expected to be attended by the Head of the Libyan National Accord Government Fayez Sarraj and the Head of the Libyan National Army, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and also representatives of other Libyan parties.
“In the context of implementation of the initiative of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Turkey, which was announced at the Istanbul summit, interlivian contacts will take place in Moscow today under the auspices of the Heads of the Foreign Ministries and Defense Ministries of Russia and Turkey”, – the Foreign Ministry said.
“Sarraj, Haftar and representatives of other Libyan parties are expected to take part in these contacts”, – they added.
After the overthrow and assassination of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya virtually ceased to function as a single state. Dual power reigns in the country now. The parliament elected by the people sits in the east, and in the west, in the capital Tripoli, the Government of National Accord (PNS) Fayez Sarraj formed with the support of the UN and the European Union rules. The authorities of the eastern part of the country operate independently of Tripoli and cooperate with the Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar.
Earlier, the presidents of Russia and Turkey Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan agreed on a common position on Libya and called on all parties to cease fire from 0.00 January 12 and immediately sit down at the negotiating table. However, the commander of the LNA, Khalifa Haftar, said he welcomed this initiative, but would continue the offensive on Tripoli, which has been ongoing since April last year. In turn, the head of the internationally recognized government of national unity of Libya, Fayez Sarraj, said on Saturday during a visit to Italy that he welcomed the ceasefire initiative, but with the condition of withdrawal of the LNA units.