Leaders of Turkey, Russia urge Jan. 12 ceasefire in Libya
BRUSSELS — Turkey and Russia called for a Jan. 12 ceasefire in war-torn Libya on Wednesday while European Union officials intensified diplomatic efforts to cool tensions in the North African nation by holding talks with its prime minister.
In a related diplomatic push in Rome, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte met with Libya’s Gen. Khalifa Hifter, whose eastern-based forces have launched a fresh offensive against Libya’s UN-backed government, sparking the latest crisis.
Following a meeting in Istanbul, the leaders of Turkey and Russia called for a ceasefire in Libya to start at midnight on Jan. 12.
“Seeking a military solution to the ongoing conflict in Libya only causes further suffering and deepens the divisions among Libyans. Securing an immediate ceasefire is the foremost priority to start an inclusive intra-Libyan political process under UN auspices,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said in a joint statement.
Libya is governed by dueling authorities in the east and the west. The east-based government, backed by Hifter’s forces, is supported by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. The western, Tripoli-based government receives aid from Turkey, Qatar and Italy. Turkey has also recently begun sending Turkish soldiers to Libya for training and co-ordination.
The fighting has threatened to plunge Libya into violent chaos rivalling the 2011 conflict that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
“We have been following with great concern the recent developments, particularly the intensified fighting around Tripoli, in long-suffering Libya,” Putin and Erdogan said. “The worsening situation in Libya is undermining the security and stability of Libya’s wider neighbourhood, the entire Mediterranean region, as well as the African continent, triggering irregular migration, the further spread of weapons, terrorism and other criminal activities including illicit trafficking.”
Meanwhile in Brussels, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj met with European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. Earlier this week, the EU’s top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy condemned Turkey’s plans to deploy troops to Libya.
“Michel expressed concerns about the worrying military escalations in Libya. He underlined that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis, only a political process can bring peace and stability closer,” the European Council said in a statement. “Libyans should be at the heart of defining their own future.”
Borrell called the situation in Libya “very dangerous,” adding “we are maybe facing a watershed point.”
Hifter travelled to Rome to meet with the Italian premier, Conte. An Italian government official said Serraj was also expected to meet with Conte later Wednesday, but the official later said Serraj apparently wouldn’t come after all.
Turkey’s parliament authorized the deployment of troops to Libya last Thursday.
Michel will travel to Turkey on Saturday to meet with Erdogan to reiterate the EU’s message of de-escalation and then head to Cairo to discuss the Libyan crisis with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
Michel also raised objections to the recent maritime pact between Turkey and Libya that has fuelled tensions in the Mediterranean, particularly over drilling rights for gas and oil exploration.