Russia Sees No Alternative To Negotiation Process On Libya Crisis - Government

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th November, 2018) Russia sees no alternative to negotiation process on the settlement of crisis in Libya and urges all parties to conflict to continue dialogue and reach compromises, First Deputy Chief of the Russian Government Staff Sergei Prikhodko said on Tuesday.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will take part in the Palermo Conference on Libyan settlement later on Tuesday.

"We believe that there is no alternative to the negotiation process. All Libyan parties should continue the dialogue on searching the compromises, relying on the Skhirat Agreement, the only viable basis for achieving a long-term settlement as stated in the UN Security Council resolution 2434," Prikhodko said.

The main activities of crisis settlement process should be carried out under the UN auspices and Russia supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame on this matter, according to the official.

Prikhodko noted the presence of many terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (banned in Russia), as well as the failure of parties to the conflict to agree on the legislation as the main obstacles on path to the settlement of situation in Libya.

"We call on the Libyan parties directly involved in the process of national reconciliation and creation of a new Libya to show maximum goodwill, the ability to overcome differences and work together to implement common tasks," the first deputy chief of the Russian Government Staff said.

Libya has been in a state of civil conflict since 2011, when the country's long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown and killed. The country is currently divided between two governments, with the eastern part of Libya controlled by the parliament elected in 2014 and backed by the Libyan National Army, led by Haftar. Sarraj's government, in turn, governs Libya's western parts and is based in Tripoli.