GNA will not sit with Haftar again, Libya PM says

Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said he will not sit with putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar again, hoping that his supporters would review their decisions.

Speaking in a broadcasted interview with Al-Jazeera on Tuesday, the head of Libya’s U.N.-recognized legitimate Government of National Accord (GNA) stressed that Abu Dhabi interfered in his country by supporting Haftar, adding that the United Arab Emirates have no common borders with Libya, which “raises a question about its goals of interfering in Libya.”

Sarraj also questioned the reasons why the UAE is establishing a military base on his country’s territories.

The prime minister stressed that he would respect the Berlin conference’s call for a cease-fire and political talks, but he wouldn’t sit with Haftar again.

On Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres co-hosted the Berlin conference, which sought a stronger commitment from world powers and regional actors to noninterference in Libya, genuine support for the cease-fire and adherence to the U.N.’s arms embargo.

Regarding the oil issue, Sarraj said Libya would face a catastrophic situation if Haftar forces continued blockading the oil fields, expressing his hope that foreign powers would put pressure on Haftar to reopen the oil ports soon.

On Jan. 12, the conflicting parties announced a cease-fire in response to a joint call from Turkish and Russian leaders. However, the talks for a permanent cease-fire deal ended without an agreement after Haftar left Moscow without signing the deal.

On Sunday in Berlin, Haftar accepted the task of designating members for a U.N.-proposed military commission with five members from each side to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire.

Libya’s Haftar must choose political solution

Eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar must abide by calls for a political solution to the conflict in Libya and take steps to secure “calm on the ground”, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: warlord Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya, supported mainly by Egypt and the UAE, and the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN and international recognition.

Libya’s legitimate government had been under attack by Haftar since last April, claiming the lives of more than 1,000 people.

On Jan. 12, the conflict parties announced a cease-fire in response to a joint call by the Turkish and Russian leaders. But talks last week for a permanent cease-fire deal ended without an agreement after Haftar left Moscow without signing the deal.

On Sunday, Haftar accepted in Berlin to designate members to a UN-proposed military commission with five members from each side to monitor implementation of the cease-fire.

Cavusoglu said Haftar’s refusal to sign a joint communique in Berlin had raised questions about his intent.

“Does Haftar want a political or military solution? Until now, his stance has shown he wants a military one,” he told Turkish broadcaster NTV at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“Haftar must immediately fall back to the political solution line and take concrete and positive steps in line with calls of the international community for calm on the ground”.

“There were calls for no one to send additional forces or weapons there. All participants pledged to abide by this as long as the ceasefire continues,” Cavusoglu said. “Our president was clear on this… and we voiced it at the end of the summit too.”