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World powers agree new push for Libya peace
BERLIN, Jan 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – World leaders committed to ending all
foreign meddling in Libya’s civil war at a Berlin summit Sunday, and to
uphold a weapons embargo as part of a broader plan to end the long-running
conflict.
The presidents of Russia, Turkey and France were among global chiefs
signing up to the agreement to stop interfering in the war — be it through
weapons, troops or financing.
But the talks failed to deliver “serious dialogue” between the warring
parties — strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli’s UN-recognised
government Fayez al-Sarraj — or to get both sides to sign up to a permanent
truce.
“Ensuring that a ceasefire is immediately respected is simply not easy to
guarantee,” said summit host Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“But I hope that through today’s conference, we have a chance the truce
will hold further.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged that there are “still some
questions on how well and effectively” the commitments can be monitored.
But he said he is “optimistic that there will be less violence and… an
opportunity to begin the conversation that (UN special envoy) Ghassan Salame
has been trying to get going between the Libyan parties”.
Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since a 2011
NATO-backed uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Most recently, Sarraj’s troops in Tripoli have been under attack since
April from Haftar’s forces.
Clashes have killed more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters and
displaced tens of thousands, until a fragile ceasefire backed by both Ankara
and Moscow was put in place on January 12.
Although Sarraj’s government is recognised by the UN, powerful players
have broken away to stand behind Haftar — turning a domestic conflict into
what some have described as a proxy war in which international powers jostle
to secure their own interests.
Alarm grew in recent weeks after Turkey ordered in troops to shore up
Sarraj’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).
– ‘Small step’ forward –
UN chief Antonio Guterres said the world powers had made “a strong
commitment to stop” the conflict escalating into a regional confrontation.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed to some positive takeaways
from the talks, but said the summit failed to launch necessary talks between
Sarraj and Haftar.
“It is clear that we have not yet succeeded in launching a serious and
stable dialogue between them,” Lavrov told reporters after the conference,
where Haftar and Sarraj did not meet face to face.
Nevertheless, the Libyan parties had taken “a small step” forward, Lavrov
added.
Pro-Haftar forces upped the ante on the eve of the talks by blocking oil
exports at Libya’s key ports, crippling the country’s main income source in
protest at Turkey’s decision to send troops to shore up Sarraj.
In afternoon trade on Asian markets Monday, oil prices rose more than one
percent on supply concerns following the move.
– Vested interests –
The flaring oil crisis underlined the devastating impact of foreign
influence in the conflict, in which Sarraj’s GNA is backed by Turkey and
Qatar while Haftar has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab
Emirates.
Ahead of the talks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at
Haftar, saying he needed to drop his “hostile attitude” if Libya is to have
any chance at winning peace.
Russia has been accused of sending in mercenaries to help Haftar as Moscow
seeks to extend its influence in the region — allegations it denies.
For Turkey, the fall of Sarraj’s GNA could jeopardise a maritime boundary
agreement the parties signed. It gives Ankara extensive rights over the
eastern Mediterranean where the recent discovery of undersea gas reserves has
triggered a scramble by littoral states.
Erdogan has repeatedly urged Europe to stand united behind Sarraj’s
government, warning that Tripoli’s fall could allow jihadist groups like the
Islamic State or Al-Qaeda to regroup.
Further unrest could prompt a new wave of migrants to head for Europe, he
has cautioned.
Amid the latest apparent ceasefire violation — according to GNA forces
Sunday, Haftar’s militia opened fire on them in southern Tripoli — Sarraj
issued a plea for international “protection troops”.
The call echoed a similar suggestion by the EU’s chief diplomat Josep
Borrell, who stressed that monitors must be present to check that any
ceasefire and weapons embargo are respected.
With the idea gathering pace, Britain and Italy had voiced readiness to
help, ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday that will discuss
how the bloc can contribute to implementing Sunday’s deal.
But as Guterres noted, that discussion remains premature.
“First, we need to have a ceasefire — we cannot monitor something that
doesn’t exist.”
BSS/AFP/BZC/1230HRS