Sudan’s FM arrives in Libya to explore options for peace talks
November 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign minister, Ali Karti, has arrived in Libya on Monday to meet with the warring parties in Tripoli and Tobruk and explore ways for bringing them to the negotiating table.
In remarks to the press following his arrive to Tripoli on Monday, Karti said that all the neighbours of the north African country agree that the ongoing conflict will affect Libya and the neighboring countries.
The Sudanese minister stressed that only negotiations can lead to solution accepted by the Libyan parties adding that fighting will be at the cost of lives and resources of the Libyan people.
“We do not want to give a chance for foreign intervention in Libya. And we conveyed the invitation of President Omer al-Bashir for dialogue between all parties and we found great acceptance of this invitation,” Karti said
He pointed out that Sudan is working in coordination with neighbouring countries to move towards a national dialogue involving all parties.
Upon his arrival the Sudanese minister met with the speaker of the Libyan parliament Aguila Salah Issa, who reaffirmed the support of the parliament and the government for regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement.
The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson, Youssef al-Kordofani, said Karti’s visit to Libya aims to create an appropriate atmosphere for holding the Libyan national dialogue and support efforts to reconcile the warring parties in the north African nation.
Al-Kordofani said in statements released in Khartoum on Monday that Sudan had previously announced readiness to mediate between the conflicting parties in Libya, adding his country stands at an equal distance from all parties and could participate in efforts to achieve peace and stability in Libya.
The Sudanese diplomat further pointed that Karti’s visit will include Tripoli and Tobruk.
In September, Thani’s government said Sudan was arming “terror” groups after an arms-laden Sudanese plane touched down in southern Libya, allegedly bound for a military airbase in Tripoli held by mostly Islamist militias who seized the capital in August.
But Sudan has vehemently denied accusations of backing any side in the Libyan conflict, saying the weapons were shipped for the use of a joint force between the two countries.
Libya has been plagued by political infighting, with government and parliament unable to control militias that have continued to defy state authority since ousting Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
(ST)