Germany is ready to organize for the upcoming peace talks between Libyan General Haftar and the UN-recognized government. The warlord’s promise to respect the current ceasefire in Libya was highly appreciated by the German Chancellor who also urges weapon embargo on the North African country, CGTN reported on Friday.
Angela Merkel welcomed a commander Khalifa Haftar’s promise to respect the existing ceasefire in Libya. For German Chancellor, it was really good news that General Haftar accepted an invitation to the Berlin Conference slated for Sunday.
On Thursday, Mrs Merkel urged a weapons embargo on Libya to facilitate a political solution to the conflict. Speaking at a news conference in the German capital, Chancellor reiterated that the conflict parties also should be ready for a new commitment to respect the UN arms embargo on Libya.
“First of all, it is good news that he is ready to observe the cease-fire,” Merkel hailed Haftar’s decision.
“At the Libya conference, we must achieve above all that the weapons embargo will be implemented […] it was already agreed within the UN framework, but so far not adhered to,” Merkel added.
The main allies of Haftar’s forces (LNA) are Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Since the internal armed conflict started by Haftar in April, more than 1,000 people have been killed and over 5,000 others injured, UN report said.
General Haftar agreed to attend the Berlin Conference
Over months of the military actions, the Libyan conflict parties understood they need to organize the talks. On January 12, both warring sides, LNA and GNA, announced a cease-fire in response to a joint call by Turkish and Russian Presidents.
Haftar’s meeting with the German foreign minister Heiko Maas resulted in General’s promise to respect the existing cease-fire. Moreover, the Libyan strongman agreed to attend the peace talks in Berlin on Sunday.
“General Haftar has signaled his readiness to contribute to the success of the Libya Conference in Berlin and is willing to participate. He has repeated his commitment to observe the existing cease-fire,” in a Twitter post, Maas said.
Merkel seeks to bring conflict parties and states concerned with the Libyan issue at the Berlin Conference in an attempt to reach a permanent cease-fire and to pave the way for a political solution to the internal armed conflict in Libya.
