European Union addresses Libyan ceasefire with Erdogan and Sarraj

A secret meeting between the President of the Eurasian nation, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, one of the two sides in the North African country's open civil war since 2011, was held on Thursday in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The Libyan delegation was formed by the chairman of the State Consultative Council, Faiz Al-Sarraj; the governor of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), Al-Siddiq Al-Kabir, and the president of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanalla. The meeting was also attended by Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Although no specific details of the summit have been released, the Turkish news agency Anadolu has revealed that they evaluated "the latest events taking place on the Libyan board", above all, referring to the battle that could be fought in the geostrategic enclave of Sirte, located on the northern coast of the country, currently controlled by the rival faction, the National Liberation Army (LNA), commanded by Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The GNA-Turkey-Qatar axis has reinforced its positions in the last few hours in the vicinity of the town, by sending weapons and groups of mercenaries - Syrians, Sudanese, Yemenis and even Moroccans - to prepare for the offensive, and to be able to respond if Egypt finally decides to intervene militarily on the ground to defend its ally, the LNA. 

It should be noted at this point that one of the most important components of this three-way relationship is the financial question, hence Al-Kabir's participation in the Ankara meeting. The links between the Libyan Central Bank and the country presided over by Recep Tayyip Erdogan have come to light in recent months: in June, it became known that Sarraj, in order to remain in power and pay for the Turkish intervention, had paid Turkey 12 billion dollars through the bank. Later information indicates that the Central Bank of Libya has deposited "billions" of dollars in the Eurasian nation, movements for which the governor of the CBL has traveled to Ankara on several occasions. One of the last visits, during which he met with the Turkish leader, took place on 29 June. 

However, Qatar stands as the main financer of the campaign of the GNA and Turkey in Libya, since it must be taken into account that the economic crisis that affects Erdogan's country - with the lira collapsing to historical levels and the uncontrolled inflation - leaves him little margin of economic maneuvering to sustain his military operation in the North African country, above all, taking into account that he has sent more than 16. He has to pay salaries to the thousands of mercenaries - because otherwise they desert, as has already happened, to Europe - and huge military equipment worth tens of thousands of euros. This also explains the presence of the Qatari minister at the meeting in Ankara: in order to win the battle against the LNA, this axis needs more money, which can only be provided at the moment by Doha. And more at this time with Egypt threatening to deploy troops in Libya and intervene in case the NLA attacks Sirte.

Also on Turkish soil, although in Istanbul, a parallel meeting was held on Thursday between Sarraj and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to the press office of the GNA. During the meeting, both "discussed the latest developments in Libya and a political solution to the crisis", according to Anadolu, a solution that "should be in line with the Skhirat Agreement of 2015 [by which the NAG was given the command of the transition in the country], the UN resolutions and the Berlin Conference [in which a cessation of hostilities and an end to foreign interference was agreed]".

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell reported that he had a telephone conversation with Sarraj, in which he discussed "the military de-escalation in Sirte and Al-Jufra, a credible ceasefire agreement and the resumption of oil production", as he posted on his Twitter account, issues that remain "common priorities". "We must work together on the Berlin process to end the conflict with a genuine commitment from all sides to save the unity of Libya," the EU official said. 

Borrell also spoke to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in the last few hours. "We have agreed to work together on the cessation of hostilities in Libya within the framework of the Berlin process," said the EU's foreign policy chief. The two men also discussed the escalation of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where a confrontation between Turkey and Greece has been reopened. 

Efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Libya have multiplied in the last week, with the possibility of a battle breaking out over Sirte, which would directly confront Ankara and Cairo with unpredictable consequences for the region and the Mare Nostrum basin, thus affecting Europe. Russia, another of the key players involved in the dispute, has been negotiating with Turkey - despite their support for different sides - to set up a working group on the cessation of hostilities and on Thursday the Kremlin Foreign Ministry reported that its country is "in communication with all parties to stop the ongoing conflict". Moscow "has called for an end to armed operations in Libya and for the reconstruction of state institutions, including the security services," it said in a statement.