Libya is now at an important crossroads, Libyan presidential candidate Aref Ali Nayed said on Thursday, stressing that the United Nations should adopt a clearer position with respect to the ongoing conflict in the North African country.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th September, 2018) Libya is now at an important crossroads, Libyan presidential candidate Aref Ali Nayed said on Thursday, stressing that the United Nations should adopt a clearer position with respect to the ongoing conflict in the North African country.
"The political process in Libya is at an important crossroads. The United Nations and the UN Security Council should take a clearer position with regard to the conflict in Libya. We are now witnessing an intense conflict in Tripoli," Nayed said at a briefing in Moscow.
Libya needs national reconciliation, and Russia could be one of the platforms for intra-Libyan talks, Nayed added.
The politician stressed that he had come to Russia to "ask for assistance in promoting the political process in Libya and helping to ensure that none of the political forces took a dominant position in the country."
"Libya does not need foreign troops as it has already proven that it can defeat terrorism, and our young people are brave enough to fight against terrorists. However, the Libyan soldiers need to be supplied with arms and military uniforms," Nayed noted.
Nayed also promised to pursue a balanced foreign policy if elected president in the December election.
"If I become president, the foreign policy of Libya will be based upon mutual respect and mutual understanding with all countries and will be balanced not only with respect to our neighbors but also with regional organizations such as the Arab League and the African Union," the politician underlined.
During his visit to Moscow, Nayed met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, leader of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky as well as officials from the upper and lower houses of the Russian parliament.
Nayed's statement came after the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) announced on Wednesday the conclusion of a new ceasefire agreement between the rival factions after deadly clashes in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Fighting in Tripoli first erupted on August 26, when the 7th Brigade from Tarhouna, a town 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of the Libyan capital, attacked other militias near the city. The sides reached a UN-brokered ceasefire agreement, but clashes broke out again last week.
Libya has been torn apart by conflict since its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The UN-backed GNA, headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, operates in the country's west and is headquartered in Tripoli.
