CAIRO: A conference taking place in Berlin on Sunday will be an important step in efforts by the international community to resolve the conflict in Libya, said Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
The conference will bring together world powers following a series of consultations and negotiations. Egypt’s president is due to attend.
Dr. Tarek Fahmy, professor of political science at Cairo University, said: “Perhaps the Berlin conference would renew hopes of reaching a peaceful settlement in Libya.” He added that for the talks to succeed, they need “political will” from all participants.
In addition, a “comprehensive vision for solving the Libyan crisis” must be drafted, and there should be a timetable to determine priorities and responsibilities, he said.
Dr. Mohamed Sadeq, director of the Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said he expects Egypt to unveil its vision for solving the conflict at the conference.
The vision, he added, will stress the unity of Libya’s territory and people, support for its army, and nonintervention in its affairs by any country, especially Turkey, which is attending the conference. If such a vision is adopted, the conference will be successful, Sadeq said.Dr. Ahmed Hassouna, an expert on Libyan affairs, said Ankara could never be an honest mediator in the conflict.
Turkey “flagrantly violates UN resolutions on disarmament and combating terrorism. It totally took the side of the GNA (Government of National Accord), which represents the political front of the armed militias controlling the (Libyan) capital,” he told Arab News.
In a statement, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Turkey’s announcement that it plans to send troops to Libya is proof that Ankara “violates relevant UN resolutions, heralding more politicization of the Libyan crisis.”
Turkey sending troops will “negatively affect” the Berlin conference “and the situation in Libya,” the ministry added.
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