France supports government of PM Fayez al-Sarral ‘without ambiguity’
Paris, France (PANA) - The French foreign affairs ministry said here Friday that France supported the government of national accord led by Prime Minister Fayez Al Serraj, an official source told PANA here.
“France’s position is without ambiguity. It support the government of national accord chaired by Mr al-Sarraj, with whom it develops close security cooperation materialized through support to the establishment of the presidential guard and the strengthening of the capacities of the Libyan marine,” Mrs Agnes von der Mühll, communication director and spokesperson for the French foreign affairs ministry, said on Friday at a news conference.
The French position comes following the Libyan Interior minister’s statement Thursday that he would suspend the security cooperation of his ministry with France for backing Marshall Khalifa Haftar.
The situation prevailing in Libya requires immediate ceasefire in the fighting that broke out between the forces of Khalifa Haftar and troops loyal to the government of Prime Minister Fayez Al Serraj.
Libyan Interior minister Fathi Bach Agha, in a communiqué issued by his press office, ordered the suspension of any link between his ministry and France within the framework of the bilateral security cooperation “because of the position adopted by the French government backing criminal Khalifa Haftar who takes illegal action”.
“We are surprised by those declarations which we don’t know if they engage all the government of national accord. France said its position with regard to the ongoing offensive; it again calls for immediate ceasefire and a reopening of dialogue as quick as possible in view to relaunch the UN-backed peace process,” added von der Mühll.
The spokesperson for the French foreign affairs ministry said that French President Emmanuel Macron and his minister of foreign affairs held talks over the past few days respectively with the UN Secretary-General and his special representative in Libya and reaffirmed France’s support to the efforts made by the United Nations.
“With its partners, European countries particularly, France is working endlessly to favour a political solution, in accordance with the commitments made by Libyan parties in Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi. It supports the British initiative at the UN Security Council in view of the adoption of a resolution calling for ceasefire,” concluded von der Mühll.
-0- PANA BM/IS/MSA/RA 19Apr2019
