Berlin talks ‘important step’ towards cementing Libya ceasefire, groundwork created with Moscow – Erdogan

Upcoming talks in Berlin are an “important step” towards finally facilitating a long-lasting ceasefire in civil-war-torn Libya, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said ahead of negotiations on Sunday.

“We see the ceasefire as a particularly important step toward reconciliation and political settlement” in Libya, Erdogan said, reiterating that peace can be achieved only through dialogue.

The Turkish leader stated that a call to end hostilities, which was jointly made by him and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, has created the groundwork for further negotiations.

On Sunday, Prime Minister of the UN-backed Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj is set to meet his rival Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, whose fighters have been closing in on Tripoli in recent months. Putin and Erdogan are also scheduled to participate in the talks, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The proposed draft communiqué from the Berlin meeting, which was leaked to the media, reportedly describes monitoring groups tasked with observing the “comprehensive” ceasefire and the creation of a joint government and presidential council in Libya.

Erdogan said that he has not yet seen the draft and that it's too early to discuss concrete measures ahead of talks.

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