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US calls for withdrawal of Russian, Turkish forces from Libya
UNITED NATIONS, United States, Jan 29, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The United States
on Thursday called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian and Turkish forces
from Libya, after a deadline for them to leave was ignored.
This appeal marked a firmer expression of US policy toward oil-rich Libya
under the new administration of President Joe Biden.
“We call on all external parties, to include Russia, Turkey and the UAE, to
respect Libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all military intervention in
Libya,” the acting US ambassador Richard Mills said during a UN Security
Council meeting on Libya, which has seen a decade of fighting since the
overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.
Under a UN-backed ceasefire signed October 23, foreign troops and
mercenaries were to pull out of Libya within three months. That deadline
passed on Saturday with no movement announced or observed on the ground.
“Per the October ceasefire agreement we call on Turkey and Russia to
immediately initiate the withdrawal of their forces from the country and the
removal of the foreign mercenaries and military proxies that they have
recruited, financed, deployed and supported in Libya,” said Mills.
The UN estimates there are some 20,000 foreign troops and mercenaries in
Libya helping the warring factions: the UN-recognized Government of National
Accord in Tripoli and military strongman Khalifa Haftar in the east.
According to the UN, Haftar has the backing of the United Arab Emirates,
Egypt and Russia, particularly mercenaries from a private group with links to
Vladimir Putin. The GNA is supported by Turkey and Syrian rebels transferred
to Libya.
Mercenaries in Libya include several thousand each from Syria and Sudan and
a thousand from Chad, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
The statement by Mills signaled a clearer tone in US policy under Biden.
While in power, his predecessor Donald Trump at one point seemed to back
Haftar, although the official US policy at the end of his administration was
that all foreign fighters should leave in line with the UN-backed agreement.
– Russian denial –
Russia denies having any military personnel in Libya.
“We don’t have any military personnel or servicemen on Libyan soil.
Therefore there is no Russian military intervention in Libya,” a spokesperson
for the country’s mission told AFP.
“If there are any Russian nationals as mercenaries, which we cannot totally
exclude, those who hired them should be addressed to withdraw them.”
At Thursday’s council meeting, most members also called for the withdrawal
of foreign forces from Libya and respect for an arms embargo in force since
2011.
Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia in his remarks to the council made no
mention of the presence of foreign fighters.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for the departure of the
fighters.
“It’s essential that all foreign troops and all foreign mercenaries move
first to Benghazi and to Tripoli and, from there, move back and leave the
Libyans alone, because the Libyans have already proven that, left alone, they
are able to address their problems,” he said.
In a declaration adopted unanimously Thursday by the 15 Security Council
members — including Russia — the panel “called for the withdrawal of all
foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya without further delay.”
The UN says the arms embargo is being violated as cargo planes arrive with
weapons for the two warring sides.
“This blatant foreign interference continues,” said acting UN envoy
Stephanie Williams, while noting that a ceasefire was still in place.
UN-sponsored talks among the two sides in Libya are expected to resume in
the near future in Geneva. Libya is scheduled to hold elections in December.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0914 hrs