The prime minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, has outlined his views on the situation in the war-torn country and the ways to resolve the crisis in an interview with Sputnik.

Statements by representatives of the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls the east of the country, about the forthcoming “liberation of Tripoli” are unacceptable, Sarraj told Sputnik.

“Firstly, Tripoli is not occupied for someone to liberate it. It is necessary to refrain from provocative statements in the media, so as not to complicate the problems. Taking advantage of our meeting today, I urge all parties to refrain from expressions such as the ‘liberation of Tripoli,'” Sarraj said.


Comment: Depends on your point of view. If the Libyan people don’t recognize the UN mandated GNA government, then yes, Tripoli is occupied by foreigners.

On July 4, the spokesman of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced the intention of the military “to enter Tripoli without an armed confrontation, with the help of its citizens.”

“We call for dialogue, to get together and solve our problems. If this does not happen, the problem will become more complicated, a civil war will be the replacement, and all Libyans will pay the price,” Sarraj said.

Sarraj denied to Sputnik that he had reached an agreement with Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar on establishment of a united army and a presidential council during a meeting in early may in Abu Dhabi.

“There were no agreements there … Many opinions were discussed, we listened to those of Mr. Khalifa, but we did not reach the agreements you mentioned,” Sarraj said.

Sarraj pointed out that the Libyan army should be under the control of a civilian executive power.

“We have stated that any military organization should be under the control of civilian executive power. It is the basic principle when building a military organization,” Sarraj said, answering a question about the main disagreement with eastern Libya’s Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar.

He went on by stating it is too early to speak of involvement of Saif Islam Gaddafi, son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, in the country’s political process.

“At present, he has been charged with several judicial charges here [in Libya], he is wanted by the International Criminal Court. I believe speaking of him is premature,” Sarraj added.


Comment: Libyans would disagree: The Great Tribes of Libya celebrate, Saif Al Islam is free

Overall, negative interference of foreign countries hampered the political process in Libya, Sarraj pointed out.

“The actions of foreign states, their negative interference into Libyan affairs, hampered the political process,” he said.


Comment: That includes NATO and the UN.

Daesh terrorist group (banned in Russia) lost control over territories in Libya after its defeat near Sirte, only some hotbeds in the desert remain under its control, Sarraj said.

“The IS [Daesh] group does not exist in the same way as it was in Sirte. They lost control over territories. After their defeat in Sirte, only individual hotbeds remain in the desert. In recent months, efforts have been made to destroy them, with the air force carrying out airstrikes against them,” Sarraj said.

Libya has been in state of a civil war since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. From that point on, the country has been governed by rival governments, with the latest division between the Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress, headed by Sarraj and backed by the United Nations and Europe. The authorities in country’s eastern part operate independently of Tripoli and cooperate with the National Army, which is led by Haftar and engaged in a protracted war with radical Islamists.