Libyan Rivals Resume Geneva Talks to Save Ceasefire

  • 2/18/2020
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Libya’s warring sides resumed Tuesday UN-brokered talks aimed at salvaging a fragile ceasefire in the North African country, the UN said in Geneva. The current ceasefire was brokered by Russia and Turkey on Jan. 12. It marked the first break since April when the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to rid the capital, Tripoli, of militias and gangs that are loyal to the Government of National Accord. But the ceasefire has been repeatedly violated. The UN support mission in Libya said five military representatives from each side have met Tuesday in Geneva, more than a week after they ended their first round of negotiations without striking a deal that would help end the fighting in Tripoli. In the previous round of talks, the UN mission said there was “broad consensus” between the two sides on “the urgency for Libyans to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the country, and to “stop the flow of non-Libyan fighters and send them out of the country.” The Geneva talks come amid intensified diplomacy among world powers seeking to end the conflict that has ravaged Libya for nine years and increasingly attracted foreign meddling. European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to launch a new maritime effort focused on enforcing the UN arms embargo around the North African country.

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