Germany: Leave Libya alone

Germany will host an international conference later this year to discuss the Libyan crisis and ways of ending foreign interference in the North African country (AFP Photo).

ZUWARAH, Libya (AFP) — German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday an international conference on Libya hosted by Berlin later this year would seek ways to end outside interference in the North African country.

Foreign influence is a “fundamental problem” in the Libya crisis and stopping it would “one of the goals in Berlin,” Maas told journalists during a brief visit to Libya.

The minister, whose remarks were translated into Arabic, spoke alongside his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Taher Siala and UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame, in the town of Zuwarah, 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Tripoli.

Earlier, the three met Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli.

They updated Sarraj on the process being prepared for Berlin under a United Nations plan of action, Maas said, describing it as a “serious process involving influential states.”

The conference date is yet to be finalized but will likely be in November or early December, according to Siala.

On 4 April, forces of eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to take Tripoli, meeting strong opposition from forces loyal to the GNA.

With the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia accused of supporting Haftar, and Qatar and Turkey of supporting the GNA, Libya has been described as a proxy war.

UN envoy Salame hopes to end international disagreement over Libya in Berlin, before holding a local conference with Libyan actors, according to his plan of action presented this summer, which also calls for a ceasefire.