Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams discussed the course of the Libyan settlement at a meeting in Moscow. On the Russian side, the need for transparent and fair distribution of revenues from oil exports in connection with the resumption of oil production in Libya was confirmed, according to a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry distributed on Friday.
"A wide range of issues related to the development of the situation in Libya has been thoroughly discussed. At the same time, it was noted with satisfaction that the regime of cessation of hostilities remained in place for four months. The importance of further coordination of efforts of the international community with the leading role of the United Nations for sustainable promotion of the inter-Libyan negotiation process in the interests of an early withdrawal of the country from the protracted systemic crisis was also noted," the report says.
Lavrov confirmed Russia's intention to continue active assistance to further convergence of the positions of the Libyan parties, the ultimate goal of which is the formation of unified authorities in Libya based on the decisions of the Berlin Peace Conference and UN Security Council resolution 2510. "The necessity of the fair and transparent distribution of oil export revenues was confirmed in the interests of all Libyans against the background of the decision to resume Libyan oil industry activity. At the same time it was stressed that the key to success in the process of gaining momentum in the Libyan settlement is the participation of all political forces with influence on the ground, seeking to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state," the Foreign Ministry said.
Williams, in turn, informed Lavrov about the preparation for the forum of Libyan political dialogue in Tunisia with the participation of representatives of all political forces and regions of Libya. The parties also noted the positive results of inter-Libyan contacts held in September and October.
On Thursday, Williams also held extensive consultations with the Russian President's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.
About the situation in Libya
For several years, Libya has had two parallel bodies of executive power - the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and, the parliament and the interim cabinet in the east with the support of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. In the spring of 2019, Haftar launched an offensive in Tripoli, and the GNA responded by seeking support from Turkey after the parties concluded a memorandum of military cooperation on 28 November 2019. Following that, all official contacts of the opposing sides completely stopped and attempts to put them to the negotiating table until recently have not led to the desired results.
On August 21, the Tripoli Cabinet announced an immediate ceasefire and suspension of all military operations. The House of Representatives supported the initiative, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign formations from Libya and for the resumption of oil production. Some time ago, representatives of the opposing camps began direct negotiations for the first time in a long period, which should soon continue in Geneva. The main tasks are consensus on forming unified transitional authorities and starting preparations for elections.
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Photo: Press Service of the Russian Foreign Ministry / TASS
Based on materials from TASS