Negotiations between Libya and Morocco: progress awaits to be put to the test

Cairo | After an effective ceasefire was reached during the last days in Libya, the negotiations between the different parties entered a new chapter, at a time when ambiguity prevails over what could be agreed due to the interrelated factors that they govern the performance of each part, and the doubts about what they would like. In the pursuit of his achievements, amid attempts by mediators to establish a consensual formula on the distribution of wealth and resources. Although negotiations are resumed today between the two delegations of the House of Representatives meeting in the east of the country and the “Supreme Council of State” of the “reconciliation” government in the Moroccan city of Bouznika after it was suspended yesterday, the Expectations revolve around reaching consensus on many details, while other issues remain controversial, due to adherence to Parties with their views and external efforts to maintain current achievements. At the forefront of these issues is the position of the “Central Bank” and whoever presides over it, as well as the headquarters of some authorities.

During the negotiations that began earlier in the week, it was agreed that the headquarters of the Audit Office would be in the capital, Tripoli, and the Anti-Corruption Commission in Sabha, while Benghazi was chosen as the headquarters of the Administrative Control Authority. These agreements came after long hours of face-to-face dialogue, at a time when Morocco was content to host the dialogue without interfering with its course. The parliament delegation has the support of Egypt, France and Russia, while the State Council delegation has the support of Turkey. However, neither party makes decisions on its own, instead making contacts before making any final decisions, which led to the prolongation of the negotiations, which were supposed to last only three days. Although the results of the Libyan meetings held in Morocco are not mandatory except for their parties, and some of them may not be able to convince the rest of their allies with it, it represents an important step towards the convergence of views on what can be built in future dialogues, as the accompanying sources say, especially in terms of “Equitable distribution of wealth and curbing waste and corruption in a way that guarantees the continuous flow of resources and the export of oil, in addition to defining dividing lines to avoid the resumption of confrontations “. Although Algeria has shown its willingness to host binding negotiations, intense international efforts and Franco-Russian contacts continue to reach solutions for the holding of elections at the end of 2021, not next March, as suggested by the head of the government of ” reconciliation “, Fayez Al-Sarraj, in his initiative of calm. That endured last month.

Haftar warns against starting the battle at any moment and ruining the dialogue.

In parallel, and for the first time in months, a delegation close to the Sarraj government arrived in Cairo to initiate a dialogue with the Egyptian authorities after a long break, at a time when Egyptian sources describe the visit as “very important” , and she can be prepared for a visit to Sarraj alone if things go as they should. However, there are still concerns in Egypt, including Turkey’s request that Al-Sarraj inform it of any coordination with the Egyptians, who “are very upset about this, but show clear understanding.” However, at the official level, Cairo denies attempts to bring it closer to Al-Sarraj, while welcoming any “dialogue that helps the territorial integrity of Libya.” The meetings with the delegation took place in secret since yesterday morning in one of the headquarters of the sovereign bodies, without any result having been pronounced. Egyptian media sources reported that the current proposal, which is being negotiated, is related to the identification of the “Sada Bridge” west of Sirte as the dividing line between Sarraj’s forces and the forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, provided that the Elections will be held under Arab and international supervision at the end of 2021, of which positive details appear, but Haftar speaks of the possibility of starting the battle at any time, which destroys the results obtained so far.

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