US, Russia say cannot support a UN call for Libya truce: diplomats
The United States and Russia both said on Thursday they
could not support a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a
ceasefire in Libya at this time, diplomats said, as mortar bombs crashed down
on a suburb of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, according to Reuters.
Russia objects to the British-drafted resolution blaming
eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar for the latest flare-up in violence
when his Libyan National Army (LNA) advanced to the outskirts of Tripoli
earlier this month, diplomats said.
The United States gave no reason for its position on the
draft resolution, which would also call on countries with influence over the
warring parties to ensure compliance and for unconditional humanitarian aid
access in Libya, which has been gripped by anarchy since Muammar Gaddafi was
toppled in 2011.
The United States’ UN mission declined to comment and the
Russian UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the
United States, Britain, France, Russia or China – the so-called permanent five –
to pass. It was not immediately clear if Britain would persist with
negotiations on a draft next week.
The United States and Russia made their positions clear
during a closed-door council briefing by UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame, who
diplomats said appealed for a ceasefire, warning that weapons were pouring into
the country and it was heading toward a serious humanitarian situation.
The US reluctance to support Security Council action is in
contrast to Washington’s earlier public opposition to Haftar’s offensive, which
began while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was visiting Tripoli.
Some UN diplomats have suggested the United States might be
trying to buy time as President Donald Trump’s administration works out how to
deal with the latest developments in Libya.
“I think there are a range of views in Washington on the
policy side and they haven’t reconciled them and they’re not entirely certain
where the president is on it,” said a senior UN diplomat, speaking on condition
of anonymity.
“The American system is trying to evaluate all the scenarios
and work out which one is in America’s best interest and just hasn’t done that
yet,” the diplomat said.
CONCERN
Haftar’s forces predicted victory within days, but Prime
Minister Fayez al-Sarraj’s internationally recognized government has bogged
them down in southern suburbs with help from armed groups from various western
Libyan factions.
A united Security Council informally expressed concern on
April 5, calling on all forces to de-escalate and halt military activity and
specifically calling out the LNA.
In the following days, the council was unable, however, to
issue a more formal statement, diplomats said, as Russia objected to a
reference to the LNA, while the United States said it could not agree to a text
that did not mention Haftar’s forces.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo then said in a statement
on April 7 that “we have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by
Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military
operations against the Libyan capital.”
Haftar enjoys the backing of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates
and Saudi Arabia, which view him as an anchor to restore stability and combat
Islamist militants, while most Western powers have supported Sarraj.
Trump met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on
April 9.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke with Pompeo
about Libya on Thursday and both agreed on the need for a “rapid” ceasefire and
return to the UN-led political process, the French foreign ministry said in a
statement. Paris has given Haftar support in the past.