By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 3 February 2017:
Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj will visit Moscow within the next month, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. Some reports suggest the trip could happen in the next few days.
Announcing the visit, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia was working with both sides of the Libya crisis and was trying to help ensure the country held together as a single unit. It particuarly wanted the various political factions not to resort to violence.
“We are carrying out consistent work with both centers of power in Libya,” said Zakharova. “We are trying to encourage them to overcome their internal differences and seek compromises on all contentious questions.”
The proposed visit follows that of Ageela Saleh to Moscow in December and of Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter the previous month. Three weeks ago, Hafter was involved in a somewhat more ceremonial exchange aboard the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov, which was cruising off the Libya coast.
It is thought that Serraj will be accompanied to Moscow by his defence minister Mahdi Al-Barghathi. He was invited in December by Russian ambassador Ivan Molotkov during talks in Tripoli.
Meanwhile, it is reported that some 70 members Libyan National Army (LNA) injured in fighting in Benghazi are now in Russia for treatment.
