UK says Berlin Conference important for Libya ceasefire

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The Berlin Conference on Sunday is “an important step towards securing a ceasefire” in Libya, Britain’s foreign secretary said on Friday.

In a Twitter post, Dominic Raab wrote his country is committed to uniting all sides behind peace efforts initiated by the UN.

“Sunday’s Berlin Conference is an important step towards securing a ceasefire and political solution to conflict in Libya,” Raab said.

“Spoken to Libyan PM Serraj to stress UK commitment to uniting international community behind UN’s efforts to find lasting peace,” he added.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will attend the conference alongside the leaders of other countries invited to event -- a high-level international effort to end fighting in the North African country.

The German government had announced that head of UN-recognized government in Libya Fayez al-Sarraj, Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar as well as representatives from Turkey, Russia, China, France, Italy, the U.S., the U.K., United Arab Emirates, Republic of Congo, UN, EU, African Union, Arab League, Algeria, and Egypt were invited to the conference to be held in Berlin on Sunday.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the other in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN and international recognition.

On Jan. 12, the warring sides of the Libyan conflict announced a cease-fire in response to the call of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Monday, the sides in the Libyan conflict gathered in the Russian capital Moscow to discuss a cease-fire meant to end the hostilities in Libya and start a political dialogue, but Haftar rejected to sign the deal and he left the meeting after al-Sarraj signed the deal.