The peace process progresses, although the agreement is missing
An opportunity for peace in the North African country. Peace talks sponsored by Moscow and Ankara begin to bear fruit. The negotiating teams have already prepared a first draft agreement to restore Libyan stability. Although the delegation headed by Fayez Sarraj has signed the brief, the rebel marshal Jalifa Haftar You have requested more time to consider the offer.
The leaders of the National Agreement Government (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) have tried these days in Moscow to end the hostilities facing both sides. The Sarraj GNA, recognized by the United Nations and supported on the ground by Turkey, resists in Tripoli the rush of the Haftar LNA, which is assisted, among others, by Russia and Egypt. This morning it has been known that Haftar left the Russian capital without initiating the final ceasefire.
Sarraj and Haftar, however, did not engage in direct dialogue. The Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavusoglu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, respectively, acted as interposed persons. The latter, also the host of the event, has been optimistic about the development of this first day of the round of negotiations: "We can report that progress has been made today."
The document prepared in the course of the negotiations prescribes a cease fire without reservations or preconditions. This truce, according to the draft, must be monitored by a military committee that must first establish a line of communication between both parties and, secondly, ensure that the groups operating under their control respect the conditions of the armistice. The parties are also called upon to designate representatives to participate in a deeper peace dialogue under the direction of the United Nations.
On a more immediate level, the parties are urged to stabilize the situation in Tripoli and other sources of instability. Likewise, the draft demands that secure access, delivery, storage and distribution of humanitarian assistance be ensured where necessary.
For the moment, all the actors involved are waiting for Haftar who, as Çavusoglu has reported, has asked for another day to decide whether or not to sign the agreement. The consultations are scheduled to resume this Tuesday. "I hope they make a positive decision," Lavrov said, referring to the delegation of the rebel military; "The Turkish and Russian representatives will continue to offer their assistance."
It is the first time that the two strong men of Libya have started talks since the fighting intensified last April. Since then, Marshal Haftar, former right-hand man of Gaddafi, has led an offensive to take full control of the national territory.
Local war, global ambitions
The civil conflict has escalated to international dimensions. Despite calls for non-interference by actors such as the United States and Egypt, Turkey and Russia have deployed in the last contingent weeks of troops in Libya. Ankara has sent both troops and related Syrian fighters. On the part of Moscow, various mercenary bodies, such as the Wagner Group, have moved to the scene of the struggles.
If, finally, a compromise is reached to establish a lasting peace, Libya is expected to offer, approximately, infrastructure contracts to rebuild the country worth a billion dollars. For this reason, many external actors have embarked on a race to exert the greatest possible influence on the future leaders of the country. It is also worth mentioning the huge reserves of natural gas along the southern Mediterranean shore.
Turkey and Russia take the lead and are also consolidating their influence in other territories in the eastern Mediterranean orbit, such as Syria. Similarly, Italy is trying to gain weight in the equation; not in vain, Libya is an old transalpine colony from the time of imperialism. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has recently officially received Sarraj and Haftar.
In the absence of strong power, the Libyan soil has become a propitious field of action for jihadist terrorist organizations and entities related to organized crime, mainly dedicated to the trafficking of people who want to reach European shores.
International time and where to see the Haro
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