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Haftar is ready for ceasefire if…

LNA

An international conference on the resolution of the Libyan crisis, attended by Russia, the US, Turkey, Egypt as well as the EU and the UN, took place in Berlin on 19 January. The participants of the gathering urged the warring parties to put a halt to fighting in the war-torn country.

Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army, has set out conditions to ensure a ceasefire in the country. Haftar said that Syrian and Turkish mercenaries must pull out from the country and Ankara must halt the supply of arms to Tripoli.

“Unfortunately, a temporary ceasefire is being used by Turkey and the [Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez] Sarraj government to transfer a large number of Syrian mercenaries, Turkish soldiers, terrorists, and weapons to Tripoli by sea and air. It is a violation of the ceasefire”, the LNA commander said.

The military commander said that the LNA supports the European Union countries’ naval patrols that prevent Turkey from transporting weapons and fighters to Tripoli.

Haftar went on to say that the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj had suspended its participation in the UN-sponsored Geneva talks on orders from Turkey and Qatar.

“Sarraj receives orders from Ankara and Doha, and he can do nothing with it. The evidence is [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s statements, in which he stressed the need for the GNA to withdraw from the Geneva talks,” Haftar said.

The LNA commander added that Sarraj’s GNA was dependent “on militias and terrorist groups” in Libya as well as on Turkey and Qatar.

According to Haftar, the LNA is open to all peace initiatives that could achieve security and stability on Libyan soil and supports actions conducted by the UN Support Mission in Libya and its head Ghassan Salame.

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