Tripoli— A high-level Russian diplomatic delegation headed by Alexander Kinshchak, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, has arrived in Tripoli aiming at strengthening cooperation with the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The delegation met Prime Minister Abdulahmid Dbeibeh on Monday and delivered to him a verbal message from the Russian leadership that emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Libya and Russia and “the need to activate the Libyan-Russian Joint High Committee,” according to a statement by the GNU.
PM Dbeibeh said the message was well received and underlined the “importance of building balanced cooperative relations with Russia, based on respect for Libya’s sovereignty and support for its stability, thus enhancing the common interests of the two countries,” the statement added.
The statement said, the meeting also discussed prospects for cooperation in various fields, emphasizing continued communication and coordination to serve the aspirations of the Libyan and Russian peoples.
The Russian delegation’s visit comes within a week since the Commander of the US 6th Fleet Vice Admiral Jeffery T. Anderson visited both Tripoli and Benghazi on board of the USS Mount Whitney, flagship of the US 6th Fleet. He discussed with Libyan military and political officials US-Libya security cooperation, regional security, and US support for the unity of Libya.
The Russian delegation also held talks with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Taher Al-Baour, in the presence of the Russian Ambassador to Libya Aydar Aganin.
According to the Libyan FM, the two sides discussed prospects for “developing the partnership to contribute to supporting stability and development in Libya.” They also cited the importance of “continuing political coordination and consultation, and exchanging views on regional and international issues of common interest”.
Also on Monday, Mr. Kinshchak held another meeting with the member of the Presidential Abdullah Al-Lafi during which both men discussed the latest political developments in Libya and the importance of Russia’s role in “supporting the peaceful process to resolve the current political impasse,” said a statement released by the Presidential Council.
Mr. Al-Lafi underlined the “need for concerted international and regional efforts to push for comprehensive national elections that would ensure lasting stability in the country.”
The Libyan Army Chief of Staff Mohamed Al-Haddad and his deputy as well as the Russian Ambassador to Libya the Russian military attaché took part in the meeting.
Al-Lafi also emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership with Russia to support the political process led by the Presidential Council, which would contribute to unifying institutions and achieving national reconciliation.
The meeting explored the activation of the role of the Joint High Committee in order to increase military and security cooperation, ensuring the capacity building of the Libyan army and the modernization of its institutions according to modern professional standards.
On its part, the Russian delegation “affirmed its country’s commitment to continuing coordination with the Libyan Presidential Council, supporting stability efforts, and working to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of military training, counterterrorism, and border security, in addition to economic and investment cooperation in vital sectors,” added the Presidential Council’s statement.
